AMRITSAR: The Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, strongly condemned the discriminatory and humiliating treatment meted out by Air India staff at New Delhi Airport against Tamil Sikh and Supreme Court lawyer, Advocate Jeevan Singh.
He said it is unfortunate that when the entire country is commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Teg Bahadar Ji – who sacrificed his life for religious freedom and human rights – his Sikhs in independent India are still subjected to such discriminatory humiliation.
Jathedar Gargajj said the incident at New Delhi Airport involving Advocate Jeevan Singh has deeply hurt the sentiments of Sikhs across India and abroad. He noted that although Air India has issued a written apology via email to Advocate Jeevan Singh and Delhi-based Advocate Neena Singh, this does not absolve it of responsibility.
He said that Air India should make the full details of the inquiry into this incident public in the interest of transparency and clarify what action has been taken against the staff members responsible.
Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj further said that in recent times, incidents targeting Sikh Kakaars (articles of faith) and Sikh identity have been on the rise in the country. He cited the case in Rajasthan where an Amritdhari (initiated) Sikh female candidate was not allowed to sit for judicial competitive exam of the Jodhpur High Court because of her Sikh articles of faith, and other incidents where Sikh schoolchildren and candidates have been forced to remove their karras (iron bracelet).
He also pointed out that despite protests from Sikh organizations, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security under the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has not yet withdrawn its circular prohibiting Amritdhari staff members from carrying kirpans at airports. This, he said, is a violation of the constitutional rights of Sikhs, since the Constitution of India allows Sikhs to wear the kirpan. These actions, he added, clearly show that governments do not take the issues related to Sikh concerns, identity, and articles of faith seriously.
The Jathedar also directed the Sikh community that wherever any action is taken against Sikh identity or Sikh articles of faith, a collective voice must be raised against the culprits, and accountability must be fixed.
He called upon the Union Government of India to ensure that no act against Sikh identity or Sikh articles of faith takes place anywhere in the country. For this purpose, he said, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) should immediately issue necessary nationwide guidelines, and if anyone still indulges in anti-Sikh actions, strict legal action must be taken against the guilty.