A controversy has erupted following the return of Sikh deportees from the United States, who were seen without their turbans at Amritsar airport, reports said.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Shiromani Akali Dal have condemned US authorities for allegedly prohibiting the deportees from wearing their turbans during their detention.

The incident involved 116 illegal Indian immigrants who arrived in Amritsar from the US on February 15. One deportee claimed that they were instructed to remove their turbans upon entering the US, a point that has drawn significant outrage.

A viral video captured the deportees seated on the floor of the airport, visibly without their turbans, sparking widespread condemnation.

In response, the SGPC officials were dispatched to provide turbans to the deportees upon their arrival. SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal expressed regret over the treatment of the deportees, stating that “the turban is an integral part of Sikh identity.” He confirmed that the SGPC planned to address the issue with US authorities.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia also condemned the actions of US officials and urged the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to take “immediate action” to prevent such incidents in the future.

The controversy surfaced shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, where he discussed the return of undocumented immigrants as part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

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Subsequent flights have brought a total of 332 illegal Indian immigrants back to Amritsar, raising questions among opposition leaders about the motives behind such deportations and the government’s handling of the situation. The BJP has responded by accusing opposition parties of exaggerating the issue.