Jan 27, 2016 - AMRITSAR: Various Sikh bodies have asked Punjab government whether it took up the issue of turban ban with the visiting French president Francois Hollande during his visit to Chandigarh.
Director, United Sikhs, Gurpreet Singh informed TOI on Wednesday that they along with other Sikh bodies, including Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Institute of Sikh Studies, International Sikh Confederation, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Panthic Tal Mel Sangathan, Shiromani Akali Dal Panch Pradhani, Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Khalsa Panchayat, had submitted a letter to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to this regard.
He informed that on the eve of the Hollande's visit, United Sikhs had submitted a letter to the French President asking him to end the turban ban in schools and on ID photos.
"We reminded him that French Sikhs continue to be deprived of their rights to wear a turban, even though, in three cases, United Sikhs had filed petition against the ban, the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) had directed France to provide an effective remedy to those whose rights have been violated by the turban ban" he said.
Notably, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK has already written to French president Francois Hollande asking him to lift turban ban on Sikhs in France and had also extended invitation to Hollande to visit a Gurdwara in Delhi.
Gurpreet said they had questioned Punjab chief minister as to what steps his government had taken to date to convince the French government that the turban ban should be lifted and its future plans to ensure that France lifts the turban ban this year. Another question asked to chief minister was whether his government was prepared to discuss the issue with Sikh bodies and whether he agreed that continuing turban ban in France would reflect poorly on his administration.