Akali Dal (Amritsar) threatens direct action on turban issue

Ludhiana, December 22, 2004

The Akali Dal (Amritsar) has threatened to launch direct action against the French Government to force it to resolve the turban issue to the satisfaction of Sikhs. As a first step, the Akali Dal has appealed to Sikhs the world over not to travel by French airline, Air France and boycott all products of French make. A formal resolution in this regard will be moved at the historic Jor Mela at Fatehgarh Sahib on December 25 to mark the tercentenary celebrations of two Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh.

Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) said the Akali Dal had to give this call with a heavy heart as all efforts to get the turban issue resolved amicably had failed. He has personally taken up the issue in Delhi with the French authorities and visited France as well and apprised the French authorities of the importance of turban for the Sikhs which is an article of faith for them. He said he apprised the French authorities of the contribution of Sikhs in France during the First and Second World Wars. The Akali Dal (Amritsar) has also sought direct diplomatic activity by the government and has asked the Indian Government not to buy French arms till the issue of turban was resolved to the satisfaction of Sikhs.

Mr Mann was confident that the Sikh diaspora would respond to the call of the Akali Dal (Amritsar).

Prof Jagmohan Singh, general secretary of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) said despite the assurance in the Lok Sabha, the general feeling amongst the Sikhs in France was that the turban issue required more serious effort to force the French Government to accept the demand of the Sikhs that their children should be allowed to wear the turban in schools. This was so because as early as on November 30 another student was expelled from the school for his refusal to remove the turban.

Prof Jagmohan Singh said while the issue of turban had not been resolved, another major humiliation of all Sikhs irrespective of age by the French authorities defies reason, logic and history. “All Sikhs in France have to compulsorily remove their turban and even the small keski while being photographed for identity cards. The Sikhs even have to untie their hair and this has been going on for may years”, he revealed.

He said during his visit to France, he had brought this issue to the attention of the French authorities and his party had continued its campaign against this injustice. Unfortunately the French authorities had stuck to their line.

Inquiries made by this reporter show that the population of Sikhs in France is estimated to be around 5,000 and mostly comprises young Sikh job seekers who have made France their home over the past two decades. Most of the Sikhs living in France are French speaking and though they maintain their religious identity, they have mingled well in the French society.

The right to wear the turban has been upheld by the British House of Lords as well as parliaments in Canada and the USA.

Besides, the Akali Dal (Amritsar) many Sikh organisations all over the world including the SGPC and Akali Dal (Badal) have appealed to the French Government to resolve the turban issue and allow Sikh children to wear the turban in the schools. Many Sikh organisations overseas are busy making preparations to petition the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg in France. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has also taken up the issue. Mr Mann said that the Government of India should serve an ultimatum on the French Government as it had done in the case of Fiji to save the government of Mohinder Chaudry.
Source-The Teibune