Clegy to call "turban" meeting !

[Harbhajan]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051228/main4.htm

Clergy to call meeting on turban issue

Varinder Walia

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 27

Even as Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, has declined to seek any clarification from Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, on his reported ‘failure’ to meet Sikh delegates during his visit to France, the Sikh clergy has decided in principle to hold a global Sikh meeting on French turban row at Akal Takht soon.

The assurance to call the proposed international meeting of Sikh scholars on legal duels with the French Government over the ban on turban in the country was given to a delegation of French Sikhs by Jathedar Vedanti here today. Mr Kulwant Singh Dhesi, a UK-based Sikh and representatives of other countries, was part of the delegation while it was headed by Mr Chain Singh.

Aimed at Islamic head coverings, France’s 2004 secularity law, which also bans Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crucifixes at state schools, has forced Sikh students to remove turbans or be expelled. Though Mr Chain Singh urged Jathedar Vedanti to write to Dr Manmohan Singh directly for taking up the case with his French counterpart, the later said he might direct the SGPC chief to take up the case.

There are around 5,000 to 7,000 Sikhs in France.

“The delegation urged Akal Takht to request the Indian Government to use diplomatic efforts to exempt Sikhs from the French secularity law,†a Takht official added.

Earlier , in a continued battle to restore the right to wearing the turban in french schools, two French Sikhs, Mr Shingara Singh Mann of the organisation Franco Sikhs and Mr Kudrat Singh of the United Sikhs, had moved a litigation to make their fundamental rights to wear 5Ks be recognised by the French Government. The French move has triggered protests from Sikhs across the world.