AMRITSAR: Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Gurbachan Singh, has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to consider severing of diplomatic and economic ties with France until its government gives the right to wear turban to the minuscule Sikh community of France.
In the light of United Nations Human Rights Committee’s (UNHRC) directions to French government to take remedial measures for violation of religious freedom of Ranjit Singh, who was asked to remove his turban for his identity card photo, the jathedar has asked the PM to immediately take up the issue with his French counterpart to restore Sikhs’ pride.
“Sikhs are being humiliated at various airports where they are asked to remove their turbans for security vetting. It is disgraceful and should be stopped,” said Giani Gurbachan Singh, adding that Sikh organizations across the globe should intensify their struggle and build pressure groups in their respective countries to force governments to restore the Sikhs’ turban pride.
The jathedar said the French government shouldn’t forget the role of around 80,000 Sikhs, who had fought for France’s freedom, wearing turban.
News Source: Times of India
