Writes to union Home Minister to clear misunderstandings
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has urged the union Home Minister Amit Shah to issue an advisory to various security agencies across the country and also to state governments creating awareness about the Sikh articles of faith.
In a letter to the union Home Minister, Warring referred to some recent incidents where some devout Sikhs were prevented from entering various places as they were carrying ‘kirpan’ which is one of the five articles of faith for the Sikhs.
The PCC president specifically mentioned the denial of entry to a Gursikh Sarpanch from Punjab to witness the Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort despite having the “VIP invitation card” as he was carrying a ‘kirpan’.
“It is sad and unfortunate that a Gursikh Sarpanch from Nabha in Punjab was denied entry to the VIP enclosure for watching the Independence Day celebrations in Delhi, despite having been invited for the occasion”, he wrote in the letter adding, “while it is understandable that the security personnel may have acted out of ignorance about the articles of faith in the Sikh religion, which includes the ‘kirpan’ as one of such five articles of faith”.
Warring emphasized that it is the duty and responsibility of the government and officials to create awareness among the security personnel about the articles of faith of different religions. “Those at the cutting edge need to be sensitised about such serious and sensitive matters, lest they end up hurting the religious sentiments of people”, he wrote in the letter.
He also referred to another incident in Rajasthan where a Gursikh girl was prevented from entering into an examination hall as she was also carrying a ‘kirpan’.