Punjab BJP President Shri Kamal Sharma has said that Sikh Regiment was part of Republic Day Parade this year. Shri Sharma said that it would be wrong to say that Sikh Regiment was excluded from the R-Day parade, as the units of Sikh Light Regimental Centre participated, as a part of a mixed band that played the tune Samvidhan.Shri Sharma said that it was most unfortunate that politicians are trying to give the matter political colour unnecessarily. Taking a dig at the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Capt. Amarinder Singh, the BJP Chief said, "I am really surprised that despite having army background, Amarinder has jumped in the issue saying that absence of a Sikh regiment contingent was a grave omission. He should verify the facts and also see the Republic Day programme booklet which clearly mention the details of the system being adopted in this regard."
Further clarifying the matter, Shri Sharma said that the armed forces contingents, which march down the Rajpath on R-Day are decided on the basis of a roster that is chalked out to cover a period of 2-3 years or more, so as to give contingents the requisite time to prepare and plan.The BJP State Chief pointed out, " The roaster system is not a new introduction and an old system being followed. In the past, there had been instances, when the Punjab Regiment, the Sikh Regiment, the Sikh Light Regiment, the Sikh Territorial Army, the Sikh Light Territorial Army and the Punjab Territorial Army had not marched on the R-Day Parade in New Delhi. To be specific, none of the above marched on Rajpath in year 2009 and 2012."Shri Sharma also said that The Sikh Regiment is strong infantry regiment of the Indian Army, drawing a bulk of its recruits from the Sikh community. "The Regiment is one of the most decorated regiment in the Indian army and was at one stage of time one of the highest decorated regiments in the British Empire", said Shri Sharma.