DSGMC to apprise envoys of turban significance
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) will invite diplomats from foreign missions to apprise them of the importance of turban in the Sikh religion.
The committee has taken the decision following the recent incident of DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK being asked by the security staff at Rome airport to remove his turban while on a visit to Italy to attend a Dastar (turban) Awareness Day event.
Mr Singh alleged that the Central government’s attitude was lax in regard to the problems faced by Sikhs at international airports.
“It is sad that such incidents are happening despite the fact that our Prime Minister is also a Sikh,” he said.
Narrating the incident, Mr Singh said that he had gone to Cremona city in Italy to attend a Dastar (turban) Awareness Day event. There had been complaints about Sikhs being asked to remove turbans in Italy for security checks, something which they consider humiliating.
He said that on August 6, at the Rome Airport when he and four others were asked to take off their “hats” (turbans), the group decided not to comply even if it meant missing the flight.
Mr Singh said that they tried to reason with Italian authorities and also contacted the Indian mission in Italy. As the word spread, support poured from Sikhs across the globe and Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding the incident.
The DSGMC chief said that after a day’s impasse, the Italian authorities allowed them to board the plane without asking them to remove their turbans.
He said that the DSGMC would send invitations to representatives of all countries asking them to attend an event on the importance of the turban in the Sikh religion.
Post new comment