Swarnjit Singh, the newly elected Democratic mayor of Norwich, Connecticut, found himself at the centre of a heated online backlash after his video about “cultural days” in the city began circulating on X. The post, combined with a short clip, claimed that Singh has a Sikh flag displayed in his mayoral office and plans to officially recognise 53 different cultural days in 2026. One of those days includes Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, which marks the birth of a 17th-century Sikh Guru.
Norwich is one of the oldest cities in the United States, and the post caught the attention of users who felt the move went against American civic traditions.
The new Dem Norwich, CT Mayor, Swarnjit Singh, has a Sikh flag in his office and is planning to officially acknowledge 53 different “cultural days” in 2026, including “Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti”—a celebration of a 17th century Sikh Guru.
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) December 23, 2025
This is one of America’s earliest cities. pic.twitter.com/NK708ULWqj
Who is Swarnjit Singh Khalsa?
The 40-year-old is originally from Jalandhar, India, and is the first Sikh to be elected mayor of Norwich. A Democrat, he was earlier elected to the city council in 2021 and went on to win the mayoral race against Republican Tracy Gould and independent candidate Marcia Wilbur. Norwich, despite being one of America’s oldest cities, is home to just around 10 Sikh families.
Swarnjit studied engineering at DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology in Jalandhar before moving to the United States on a study visa. In the US, he completed his master’s degree in computer engineering. He later married a Sikh woman from Ludhiana and settled in Norwich, where he started building his life and career.
Before becoming mayor, Singh served in several local roles. He has been a member of the City Council, served on the Norwich Board of Education, and worked with the Commission on the City Plan, the Inland Wetland Commission, and the Norwich Area Clergy Association.
He also served as Director of the Norwich Community Development Corporation and previously owned the Norwichtown Shell gas station for over a decade. Singh lives in the Norwichtown neighbourhood with his wife, Guntas, whom he married in 2009, and their two daughters.
‘This isn’t unity’: Swarnjit Singh draws backlash over Sikh flag in office
Several X users accused the mayor of pushing identity politics instead of focusing on “American traditions.” One user wrote that flying a Sikh flag and recognising dozens of cultural days was “not civic unity” but “bureaucratic balkanization,” adding that the mayor should start with American holidays and the American flag. “Democrats replace Christmas with Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti while MAGA pretends “America First” means anything,” one user wrote.
Another post claimed that Norwich was now prioritising “foreign religious holidays over American traditions,” while others questioned immigration policies, assimilation, and the idea of recognising religious or cultural observances beyond Christmas. “What’s a Sikh flag? Sikhism is a religion, not a state. What’s next – max flag, flag with cross?”
There were also mixed reactions from locals. One person who said they lived near Norwich said they did not mind people expressing their religion, as long as other holidays like Christmas were also respected.
