As India’s top U.N. diplomat, Hardeep Puri is not supposed to have a hard time getting through the airport, but a trip through Houston found the Sikh in a polite showdown with security officials who wanted to search his turban. Puri is the third high-ranking Indian official to have a run-in with American security, prompting controversy on the subcontinent.

India’s foreign minister said his government had raised the Puri incident with U.S. authorities. Puri, himself, downplayed what happened, saying he corrected the offending officer and “The important thing here is that I did not let them touch my turban,” an offense to Sikhs. — PZS

PTI via DNA:

The security officials then proceeded to go and check with his senior, which took about 20 to 25 minutes and Puri kept waiting.

When the official returned, he acknowledged that indeed there was such a provision and Puri was able to check his own turban.

“The important thing here is that I did not let them touch my turban,” he said, adding that the guards were doing their job.

Read more

Wait, before you go…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

Support Truthdig