Perturbed over the incident where Rome Airport Authorities asked Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief to remove his turban for security checking, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday indicated that he is in favour of doing away with the “unethical” practice of removing turbans in the name of security checks.
DSGMC president and the head of SAD’s Delhi unit Manjit Singh GK was asked to remove his turban during frisking at an international airport in Rome (Italy). Describing the turban as an integral part of Sikh identity, Badal said that the Union Government must mount pressure on national Governments of foreign countries to stop the practice of removal of turban in the name of security check at International Airports.
Badal said that he would soon take up this matter with the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Dubbing the incident to be “unfortunate”, Badal said that removal of turban on the name of security check in the foreign countries was a “direct assault on the Sikh identity” “This badly tormented their psyche and this grave disrespect to the Sikh identity consciousness in any form was not at all tolerable,” said Badal while talking to the media persons on the sidelines of his Sangat Drashan programme in Gidderbaha assembly segment in Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
Badal added that in order to check this practice, the Union Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its embassies in various countries must convey the respective national Governments that they must accord due respect to the turban by desisting from such practices, which hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs. “I will soon take up this matter with the Prime Minister and the Union Foreign Affairs Minister for an immediate action,” he added.