Akal Takht to issue white paper on turban issue

 



JALANDHAR, NOVEMBER 27, 2004
PTI

Terming the ban on wearing turbans in France as "inhuman," Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti on Saturday said the highest decision-making body of the Sikhs would soon issue a white paper on the strategy to be adopted by community leaders to persuade the French authorities to lift the ban.


"Before formalizing a strategy to be adopted to tackle the turban issue, religious Sikh organizations, Shiromani Akali Dal and other related organizations will be summoned to Akal Takht to take them into confidence," Vedanti, who was here to attend a seminar on the turban issue, told reporters.

Asked about the period by which the white paper would be issued, he said "white paper will be issued very soon and I am confident that it will be strong enough to solve the issue once for all".

Terming the law which bans wearing turban in France as "inhuman", Vedanti said perhaps the French authorities "do not understand the sanctity of the issue and feelings of Sikhs also."

Vedanti parried a question whether the Akal Takht was satisfied over the steps taken by the Centre on the issue, saying that since it was an international issue, the Akal Takht would seek the help of the government also.

When pointed out that the French law was not particularly against Sikhs but also against other religious symbols, he said initially Akal Takht would raise the issue of ban on turban only and if needed, later on a joint platform could be built to raise the common cause of all religions.

Vedanti also said that the SGPC must devise a plan to legally defend the right of the Sikh community. "The SGPC must ensure that it should continue to fight for the Sikh turban till the French government does not take the draconian law back."