Jeev Milkha Singh's coach insulted in turban controversy

New Delhi, Mar 16: The community of Sikhs have had to face many upheavals across the world with hate crimes and their turban getting unsolicited attention from the Western world. But the latest victim facing the insult is Amritinder Singh, who is the coach of India's best golfer and international name Jeev Milkha Singh.

He faced embarrassment at the Milan airport when he was asked to remove the turban before boarding the flight to Sicily, Italy. Jeev who was accompanying the coach requested with the airport officials but of no avail. The security officials stressed that he could either have to remove the turban or alter his travel plans.

Amritinder was quoted as saying in a statement, "It is a personal insult as I have traveled all over the world and even though security officials put their detectors around my turban, I have never had to remove my turban. For me, it is like being asked to strip in public. I also told them that they could look at my passport and see that I am a sportsperson and have never been humiliated like this, but they refused to comply. I even told them that this is not security but harassment."

When Jeev has bagged many international titles and continues to be a name to reckon with the sporting world, he has had to face such humiliating treatment at the hands of certain people who does not fully fathom the meaning of the Sikh Turban and its religious connotations.

Jeev said on the turn of events, "My father wears a turban and I would be horrified if he was told to remove it unnecessarily and unrespectfully in front of hundreds of people."

Amritinder also appeared visibly distressed and said, "I belong to a country whose Prime Minister wears a turban, and I feel that my nation should take up such issues with other countries. I do not want to stand in the way of safety regulations, but a person's personal privacy has to also be respected."

Jeev accompanied by Amritinder is scheduled to play the European leg of the Sicilian Open. The news comes after hate crimes are on the rise against Sikhs. Recently two elderly Sikh men were shot down in the Sacramento suburb in USA. There was also much controversy when Sikhs were subjected to enhanced 'pat-down' in US airports.

OneIndia News