SGPC takes strong note of barring Sikh staff from wearing ‘kirpan’ at airport

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami wrote to Union minister of civil aviation to raise a strong objection and urge immediate withdrawal of the order barring Sikh staff from wearing ‘kirpan’ at airport

The Union government’s move to debar Sikh employees wearing ‘kirpan’ from performing duty at the airports of the country has stirred a row and upset the Sikh community.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami termed the recent notification of the Union ministry of civil aviation as an “attack” on Sikh rights, in which, Sikh employees are barred from wearing ‘kirpan’. (HT Photo)

A day after an instance of a Sikh employee wearing ‘kirpan’ being stopped from performing duty at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, came to the light, various Sikh and organisations took a serious note of the rule.

Confirming the development, Amritsar airport director VK Seth said, “As per the fresh guidelines issued by the director-general (DG), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), no employee is allowed to wear ‘kirpan’ while performing duty. We respect the religious sentiments of everyone but the guidelines are applicable to everyone.”

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami termed the recent notification of the Government of India’s ministry of civil aviation as an “attack” on Sikh rights, in which, Sikh employees are barred from wearing ‘kirpan’. He wrote to the Union minister of civil aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia to raise a strong objection and urge immediate withdrawal of this order issued on March 4.

“In their own country, this discrimination is a major attack on the religious freedom of the Sikhs, which will never be allowed to be implemented. The Centre should never forget that the Sikhs have remained at the forefront in making sacrifices for the freedom of this country and if the culture of the country survives today, it is because of the Sikhs,” said Dhami.

“The governments should refrain from adopting such policies which hurts the religious sentiments of the Sikhs,” said Dhami.

“This is the clear violation of the rights of the Amritdhari Sikh employees of the airports, provided by the Constitution of India under Article 25, which allows an Amritdhari Sikh to carry ‘kirpan’ as his religious requirements. Our organisation demands from the civil aviation minister and the Union home minister to withdraw the letter immediately so that the employees of the airports are not discriminated. Withdrawal of the letter is necessitated to maintain communal harmony and freedom of Sikhs,” said Kulwant Singh Ankhi, patron, Amritsar Vikas Manch.

FlyAmritsar Initiative global convener and US-based Sameep Singh Gumtala said, “If Sikh passengers are allowed to wear a ‘kirpan’ on domestic flights, it is hard to believe that they pose a greater security threat after undergoing security clearances. To my knowledge, Sikh employees at airports in the UK, Canada are permitted to wear ‘kirpan’ at the airside.”