PHILADELPHIA (US): An IndianAmerican Sikh, Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, stood out in his pink turban among a group of US military veterans who took the stage at the Democratic National Convention, to root for Hillary Clinton as the party’s presidential nominee on Thursday night.

NYT PHOTOIndian-American Sikh, Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, seen on the stage as Gen John Allen (retd) speaks on the final day of the Democratic National Convention at Philadelphia in the US.

Kalsi was accompanying General John Allen (retired) along with a group of military veterans at the Wells Fargo Centre in Philadelphia. Standing behind Allen, as he spoke, Major Kalsi’s pink turban grabbed eyeballs.

Allen said under Hillary the country will not “abandon the world”, and pursue enemies, defeat the Islamic State and stop the spread of nuclear weapons.

Kalsi, an emergency room doctor, served 15 years in the US Army, and earned a Bronze Star in Afghanistan for his meritorious service in combat zone. There he had treated many victims of improvised explosive devices, the crude home-made bombs.

Raised in New Jersey, Kalsi became the first Sikh in the US military to receive permission to wear a beard and turban in 2009. He had to wage a two-year campaign that resulted in the army granting him a special exception, the first such to a policy established in 1980s.

Kalsi left active duty in 2013, and started a campaign to challenge the strict grooming policy that he believes has blocked hundreds of Sikhs from joining the military.

(With inputs from NYT)