AMRITSAR: Akal Takht has asked the Australian government to revoke its decision of banning the ‘kirpan’Criticising the decision of Australian government for implementing it before having any community consultation, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said the decision of Aussie education minister Sarah Mitchell was an immature one.
“Sikh organisations should unite to fight for the identity of the Sikh symbols. The government should review its decision that has hurt the Sikh sentiments, ” he said.
The jathedar had returned from abroad and visited the kin of former Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti who died recently.
The Shiormani gurdwara Parbandhak committee (SGPC) in a communications letter to the Union Ministry of External Affairs and the High Commissioner of India to Australia, seeking immediate intervention as the issue is related
The ban was imposed following an incident at a Sydney school on May 6 when a 14-year-old Sikh student, who had been bullied in the school, used his kirpan in defence and injured another student.
Calling the ban “uncalled for” and criticising the
Meanwhile SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur said, “Based on one incident, the sanctity of the community cannot be put at stake. The kirpan is sacrosanct to the Sikh community. It can never be equated with a knife or a dagger.” She said the education minister did not have any discussion with Sikh community leaders except for having an online meeting