New Delhi, India (August 09, 2013): As per certain media reports Italy has assured Indian government that it was sensitive to the concerns of the Sikhs in the wake of a controversy after a Sikh delegation, comprising Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (DSGMC) and others, was held up at Rome airport and members asked to remove their turbans.
According to various media reports the assurance was conveyed by Italian Ambassador Daniele Mancini to Sudhir Vyas, Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry of Government of India, when he was called to the foreign office to impress upon Rome the sensitivity of the situation. It has been reliably learnt.
The Sikh delegation led by DSGMC President S. Manjit Singh GK was stopped at Rome airport on August 6, 2013 and on the name of security check up delegation members had been pressurized to remove turbans. They were allowed to go only after the Italian foreign office intervened and “facilitated the departure of the Sikh delegation without insisting on removing the turbans”. The delegation left for Dubai late Wednesday night.
Mancini conveyed to the Indian official that there was a large Sikh population in Italy and that the authorities there “are sensitive to the concerns of the Sikhs on such matters”.
“He also mentioned that strict guidelines have been issued for officials to follow in such matters. He also assured that he would once again convey the sensitivity of the issue to the Italian authorities”.