India born Sikh presented Rosa Parks Trailblazer award in USA

AMBALA: On January 18, the Indian-American Sikh Gurinder Singh Khalsa, 45, who lives in Fishers of Indiana, US was presented with the prestigious 2019 Rosa Park Trailblazer award after being selected for champions of the diversity by the Indiana Minority Business Magazine. The award has been given for his campaign that forced the authorities in the US to change their policy towards turban of the Sikh community and for his continued demonstration of courage and compassion.
Khalsa natively belongs to village Adhoi in Barara block of the Ambala district.In 2007, Khalsa was refused access to board an airplane because of his turban, thereafter; he started a campaign to change the policy of the transportation and security administration (TSA) towards the Sikh turban.
Khalsa was supposed to get 20,000 signatures for this petition, but he brought 67,000 signatures from people nationwide and took the issue to the US Congress. Following which, TSA was forced to change its headgear policy towards the Sikh community turban. As a result, the Sikhs can now wear their turban through airport security in the US and if they do not set off any alarms the security agents cannot force them to remove the turban.

Khalsa who is also a chairperson of Sikhs political action committee said, "I was dragged out and prevented from boarding the flight as I refused to remove my turban. Somebody had to take the stand, so I decided to take the stand for all those who believe in religious liberty and freedom of faith. I dedicate this award to more than 67,000 supporters from all walks of life across America, and to one of the largest Sikh advocacy group, Sikh coalition, which have supported me in bringing this change."
The award ceremony took place in Indianapolis and it was attended by around 800 people including the top state officials and eminent community leaders.
Curtis Hill, Indiana attorney general said, "Sometimes those who bravely protest for civil rights are stereotyped as somehow threatening figures – perhaps simply because of the raw courage required to fight for justice. But in the personalities of both Gurinder and Rosa, we see the great power of quiet resolve."
Brian Bosma, Indiana state assembly Speaker also congratulated Khalsa on receiving the 2019 Rosa Parks Trailblazer award for his principled commitment to faith and pursuit of positive change which embody the American principles of free speech and religious freedom.
The award was presented to Khalsa by Robert Shegog, the vice president of the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper and the Indiana Minority Business Magazine.