Punjab News Sikhs still facing problems at airports, Italy govt told

Lily

B.R
Staff member
Patiala July 10:

Minister of State for External Affairs, Preneet Kaur, who is currently on a visit to Italy, has asked the Italian authorities to implement assurances on the Turban issue in letter and spirit.


Giving this information on behalf of Preneet, her additional private secretary MP Singh stated that Preneet interacted with a large number of people from the Indian community at Milan and Rome. “One of the issues taken up by the Indian diaspora in Italy was that the passengers belonging to the Sikh community are being asked to remove their turbans at the security check at the Italian airports.


Despite the categorical assurances from Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini to Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna in his bilateral meeting on June 2011 that they will not be asked to remove their turbans unless there is a specific alert, the Sikhs are still facing problems. They also gave examples of several cases when they were asked to remove the turbans at the Milan Airport,” the additional private secretary told reporters. “Italian Minister reiterated the assurances made by the Italian Foreign Minister. They were categorical that the suitable instructions in the matter had already been issued by their interior ministry,” said MP Singh.


MP Singh also said pertaining to the matter of the work permit for the Indian students and the visa problems for the spouses of the Indian students coming on long-term courses/professionals working in the Indian companies in Italy, the Italian minister assured that they were ready to initiate the process for signing suitable bilateral agreements to resolve the matter.
 
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