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Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, met President Barack Obama at the White House and pressed Obama to allow Sikhs in US Armed Forces without any restrictions. US President promised to look into the matter and agreed to follow up. Dr. Rajwant Singh said, “President Obama, you have to […]

Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, met President Barack Obama at the White House and pressed Obama to allow Sikhs in US Armed Forces without any restrictions. US President promised to look into the matter and agreed to follow up.

Dr. Rajwant Singh said, “President Obama, you have to allow Sikhs to serve in the Army without any restriction. They are only able to serve if Pentagon gives them an exception. This needs to go. Please do not leave office without taking away this restriction against Sikhs.

President Obama responded, “Sikhs are great warriors. I will look into it and will follow up.”

Dr. Singh added, “Now Canada has turbaned Sikh as the National Defence Minister.” To which Obama said, “I know, I know.”

Dr. Singh thanked Obama for his service to the nation. “I want to thank you for your leadership and what you have done for this country.”

Dr. Singh also met with Tina Tchen, chief of Staff for the First Lady, Michelle Obama. In addition, Dr. Singh met with Melissa Rogers, head of the White House Faith based Office of Neighborhood Partnerships, which works with faith communities on social issues. She also promised to follow up with President Obama.

Dr. Singh has been participating in Sikh community affairs since his early youth. He founded the first Sikh youth group in 1980 in Washington. Dr. Singh is active in peace, justice and religious freedom issues. Dr. Singh also keeps close contact with the Sikh religious and Punjab political leadership. He is often consulted on many global issues by them. Dr. Singh has been active on national scene in America. He is the first Sikh leader to be invited to the White House in 1993 by President Clinton.

He was the first Sikh leader to be invited along with leaders of many different religions to a meeting with Bush immediately after the attack of 9/11 on September 20, 2001.

He was also instrumental in having the White House observe the 400th anniversary of the installation of the Sikh scriptures in August 2004. This was the first Sikh event at the White House and it was attended by the members of Bush’s cabinet and various Sikh leaders from all over America.

~ Source: prweb.com