By P. Sarojini
      WASHINGTON DC (CWBN)_ An influential Indian-American Sikh leader Gurinder Singh Khalsa stated that the outgoing President Donald Trump has left the country more divided than ever under his presidency and caused damage to the country’s reputation in the international grounds, which will take years to rebuild.
      Indiana-based Gurinder Singh Khalsa told PTI that people are now keen on selecting their representatives. He said, “This is a democracy at work, on both sides. Whether Democrat or Republican… people are excited and want to speak out. The election’s historic turnout means people are hungry to change the status quo on both sides”. He added, “We are more polarised and divided than I have ever seen being an American for 25 years. I believe people do care who will represent them, especially in times like the COVID-19 pandemic”.
     Gurinder Singh Khalsa, 46, received the prestigious Rosa Parks Trailblazer Award for bringing in changes in the Transportation Security Administration’s policy towards turbans. This dates back to 2007 when Khalsa was refused by the airport officials to board an airplane because of his turban. In response to this incident, he gathered more than 67,000 people nationwide to file petitions against this matter and took it to the US Congress too. His efforts regarding the turban issue directed the Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) to make changes in its headgear policy towards the Sikh community.
      Khalsa, despite being a member of the Republican party, did not cast his vote for Trump in this election or in 2016. He said, “I do not think he is morally or ethically fit to be president, especially the leader of the free world. I came to America by choice; for dignity and respect. For the first time as an American, I have felt challenged on those values”.
      Khalsa said that Trump’s four years of presidency has disappointed him to a greater extent. He accused Trump for his rhetoric, which had directly encouraged racism and sexism in the country. He said, “And he continues to feed into the narrative of white against black, and poor against rich”.
      Khalsa said that he is highly dissatisfied with the current policies of the Republican party, but he has no plans to leave it as the problem lies not within the party, but with the members. He said, “I do not think the issues lie within the party. It is those like Trump who have twisted the foundation of what it means to be a Republican”.
      Khalsa spoke about the new Indian-origin Vice President Kamala Harris and said that her historic win has given high confidence to the color people of the country and the immigrants as well, especially the Indian community. He said, “Kamala Harris is a powerful accomplishment for America and provides a ray of hope for relations with India. And her win is just the beginning”.
      He further added that it is high time for the Indian community to take active part in the politics, thereby contributing to the community they live in. He said, “You need to give back by serving the community, in whatever capacity you can. One thing to keep in mind is that democracy is not a constant; it needs to be monitored and respected or it will slip away”.Edited by Elishya Perera
