pps309
Prime VIP
Amritsar: Though the storm raised by kirpan ban in foreign countires and incidents of turban removal & frisking at International airports is yet to settle down but the Central Industrial Security Force has created another controversy by banning the Sikh kirpan in some areas of Amritsar airport.
Some Sikh organizations have termed the ban as undemocratic and a direct attack on Sikh religious rights in its own homeland.
While talking to Saanj news, a baptized Sikh Harnam Singh of Amritsar said that, it is a strange paradox that on one hand the government is talking with foreign countries to lift kirpan ban, while on the other hand, Sikhs have been devoid of their religious right in the Sikh mecca, Amritsar.
It may be mentioned,CISF, the force that takes care of airport security, has banned the Sikh employees to wear 'kirpan', Sikh's religious symbol, while performing their duties on air side at Sri Guru Ram Das International Airport.
"Amritsar is one of the ultra sensitive international airports in the country and we can't take chances with the security of passengers" said commandant of the Force, Sharad Kumar, while talking to reporters.
The issue came to fore after Central Industrial Security Force prevented an airport employee Nirmal Singh to work near the aircraft while wearing his 'kirpan'. Nirmal Singh, a baptized Sikh, also lodged a complaint with Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, to take notice of this interference into the religious affairs of the Sikhs. Nirmal Singh said that he had been working at airport since 2001 and there had been no issue with his kirpan .
Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Avtar Singh Makkar demanded government intervention for immediate withdrawal of any such orders. "Kirpan is an essential part of Sikh's dress code and can't be separated from Sikhs" he said. It may be mentioned, there are 19 baptized Sikh employees of airport , who are facing harassment due to this ban.
Some Sikh organizations have termed the ban as undemocratic and a direct attack on Sikh religious rights in its own homeland.
While talking to Saanj news, a baptized Sikh Harnam Singh of Amritsar said that, it is a strange paradox that on one hand the government is talking with foreign countries to lift kirpan ban, while on the other hand, Sikhs have been devoid of their religious right in the Sikh mecca, Amritsar.
It may be mentioned,CISF, the force that takes care of airport security, has banned the Sikh employees to wear 'kirpan', Sikh's religious symbol, while performing their duties on air side at Sri Guru Ram Das International Airport.
"Amritsar is one of the ultra sensitive international airports in the country and we can't take chances with the security of passengers" said commandant of the Force, Sharad Kumar, while talking to reporters.
The issue came to fore after Central Industrial Security Force prevented an airport employee Nirmal Singh to work near the aircraft while wearing his 'kirpan'. Nirmal Singh, a baptized Sikh, also lodged a complaint with Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, to take notice of this interference into the religious affairs of the Sikhs. Nirmal Singh said that he had been working at airport since 2001 and there had been no issue with his kirpan .
Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Avtar Singh Makkar demanded government intervention for immediate withdrawal of any such orders. "Kirpan is an essential part of Sikh's dress code and can't be separated from Sikhs" he said. It may be mentioned, there are 19 baptized Sikh employees of airport , who are facing harassment due to this ban.
