CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister  Parkash Singh Badal Sunday asked the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to intervene with the French Government to ensure that there are no violations of human rights against the Indians especially Punjabis and the Sikhs in that country.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh said that cases of racial discrimination against the Indians in general and Punjabis and the Sikhs in particular have been on the rise. Badal had been receiving complaints from almost all over the world about such cases.

In his letter  Badal spoke about several recent incidents of racial discrimination in France pointing out especially case of ban on turban in educational institutions in that country. He urged Dr. Manmohan Singh to take up the issue with the President of France, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy who would be visiting India on January 26.

Badal hoped that the Government and the people of France firmly believe in sharing the liberal ethos incarnated in the values for which people all over the world, the French in particular have fought. Mr. Badal hoped that Dr. Singh would certainly bring to the notice of the visiting dignitary, the issues of violation of basic religious liberties against the Sikhs in that country. And he hoped that the French President would not only appreciate their concern in the matter but also take concrete steps to make certain the image of the French Nation in respecting fundamental right to religious freedom is safeguarded.