Khalsa delegation seeks early resolution of turban issue in France

By Ravinder Singh Robin

Amritsar, January 23 : A delegation of Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) met Jerome Bonnafont, the French Ambassador to India at his residence in New Delhi to apprise him of the Sikh concerns on the turban issue in France.

The three-member delegation comprising of former IAS officer, Professor Gurtej Singh, Profesor Jagmohan Singh and Kanwarpal Singh, spokesperson of KAC presented a memorandum seeking a solution to the problem of Sikh school children in France, saying that while the Sikhs were conscious of the secular ideals of France, they earnestly believe that the French have significantly erred in this particular case.

Dal Khalsa, General Secretary, Kanwarpal Singh said: "The French ambassador assured the delegation that though the French President Nicolas Sarkozy was here on a short visit, he would explore possibilities for a Sikh delegation to meet him."

The meeting lasted thirty minutes on Tuesday.

The memorandum stated that every department of the French Government was aware of the religious and social significance of the Turban to the Sikh people.

Over the last three years, representations were submitted to various French authorities by a multitude of Sikh organizations from all over the globe.

Political leaders, religious personalities, university scholars and legal luminaries have submitted their viewpoints in great detail.

The KAC memorandum said that the school-going Sikh student wearing the turban was no threat to any person.

While talking to the French diplomat leaders emphasised that a Sikh was conspicuous even without his turban. Therefore the rationale for the ban is irrelevant, improper and even unlawful as per European and international law.

Making their point that the turban was of cultural significance, the memo said: "The apparel of a Sikh is incomplete without the turban."

The leaders further said that all logic about France being unaware of the Sikh situation is fallacious and misleading.

The leaders conveyed to the French Ambassador that the Sikh turban was an inalienable right of the Sikh people and as such it should be restored in France without any further delay.

ANI