Protesting against Rome Airport Authorities asking DSGMC chief to remove his turban for security checking, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday wrote to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.
At the same time, Sukhbir appreciated the stand of DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK, “who steadfastly stood by his Sikh values and refused to remove his turban”. Sukhbir has urged the Union Government to ensure that such unwarranted incidents do not occur in future and special advisories be sent through all our foreign missions and offices to sensitise about the turban of Sikhs.
SAD chief, in communiqués to the PM and External Affairs Minister, said that Sikhs were being deliberately targeted at the airports of Italy repeatedly and Union Government owes an explanation to the country for its complete failure to safeguard the interests of Sikhs despite various hollow assurances. Registering a strong protest, Sukhbir said that he, on behalf of entire Sikh community, was lodging a protest over intolerable way Sikhs are being treated at airports in Italy and other countries of the world.