Amritsar, Punjab (August 10, 2013): Dal Khalsa came down heavily on Italian Government for the incident in which a Sikh delegation led by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK was asked to remove turbans at Rome airport.
The party spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh, in a written statement sent to Sikh Siyasat News (SSN), termed the incident as “disturbing” and said that the continuation of humiliation of Sikhs every then and now in various European countries should be protested. He lauded the courage shown by president Manjit Singh GK in refusing to obey the unethical dictate of Rome airport authorities.
At the same time, he urged the Sikhs to first start maintaining the dignity and honour of the turban themselves citing many shameful incidents where Sikhs have tossed the turbans of another Sikhs. He said Punjab police is notorious for disrespecting turbans and the same can be seen especially during lathicharge on the agitators. Sikhs in custody are not allowed to wear turbans in Punjab, he said.
“Ironically, there have been so many Akali Dal Governments in power in Punjab but this rule dating back to British days has not been amended. Before raising hue and cry against foreign countries, let Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal first pledge to bring a resolution in the Assembly that the turban of a Sikh would not be removed by the police during custody, said Kanwarpal Singh.