Over five thousand Sikhs from all over the UK gathered in London in Parliament Square. The gathering was arranged by Sikh Channel and supported by Panthic Organisations. The event was named D-Day or Dastaar Day. The aim was to raise awareness to all about the importance and sanctity of the Dastaar also known as the Sikh Turban, when many Sikhs now are being forced to remove their Dastaar across many European Airports when approaching Security.
Similar rallies were simultaneously held in Madrid, Brussels and Rome. The event was covered by the local print media, BBC news and Sukh Sagar radio station and a live broadcast by Sikh Channel, young and old Sikhs arrived at the Parliament Square wearing blue, orange and white Dastaars. Among those that attended was Sant Baba Baljit Singh Daduwale who especially flew in from Punjab to be part of the awareness campaign. Veteran Marathon runner 100 year old Bhai Fauja Singh was also present. Placards were carried by the Sangat, banners pointing out to passing tourists the reason for the rally were unfurled.
Members of International Panthic Dal (I.P.D), distributed thousands of Sikh Identity Information Cards to all present,
the cards highlighted our articles of faith and laws that give Sikhs some protection in the UK. The Sikh Identity Cards were given to amritdhari and non-amritdharis that wear a dastaar, especially to those who had difficulty speaking the English language. The cards comfortably fit in a wallet or purse.
Speakers at the rally voiced both in English and Punjabi how during both World Wars over 130,000 Dastaar wearing Sikh soldiers fought and died in Europe for the freedom of all mankind across the world, and why is it now that many Sikhs have not got the freedom and dignity that they so deserve to walk in to European Airports without having to suffer humiliation at the hands of Security staff, even after they walk successfully through scanners, and on a daily basis, Sikhs who work at UK airports are also asked unnecessarily to remove their Dastaars, when methods of swabbing and wands are available.
A spokesperson for I.P.D stated, that the event achieved it’s aim and objective, thanked all the Gurdwara management committee members for arranging coaches to bring the sangat to D-Day, and also thanked all the young Sikhs raising awareness, by distributing literature and talking to members of the public and tourists from across Europe, who passed the rally. International Panthic Dal members consists of professional Sikhs born and bred in the UK who have successfully forged links with both religious and ruling political leaders of Punjab.
