Dishonour to Sikhs a national insult: Govt

India on Wednesday said dishonour to the Sikhs is a national insult and the government takes serious note of the incident in which golfer Jeev Milkha Singh’s coach Amritinder Singh was forced to remove his turban at Milan airport last week. 

Assuring the Rajya Sabha that the issue would be taken up with Italy, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said, “Whenever there is an insult to Sikhs, we take it as national insult. We take it up in that spirit.” 

He was responding to senior BJP leader S. S. Ahluwalia who said during Zero Hour that the Indian government was not able to convince Italy that turban for Sikhs was a symbol of religious respect. 

with thanks : thehindu : link above for detailed news.

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India protests after Sikh golf coach forced to remove turban at Italian airport security

NEW DELHI — India summoned the Italian ambassador Wednesday to protest demands by Milan airport officials that a world-class golfer’s Sikh coach remove his turban during a security check a day earlier.

It was the second time in a week that Jeev Milkha Singh’s coach Amritinder Singh had his turban removed and frisked in the northern Italian city.

Sikhs worldwide object to such searches as discriminatory and unnecessary in a world with machines for body scanning and metal detection.

Foreign Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna condemned the searches and said the religious practices of all Indians must be respected.

with thanks : washingtonpost : link above for detailed news.

'Why can't govt do something about it'

CHANDIGARH: Ace golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar on Wednesday hit out at Indian government for failing to check the growing incidents of Sikh's being subjected to discriminatory treatment around the world.

His reaction came after Jeev Milka Singh's coach Amritinder Singh was asked to take off his turban at Italy airport during security checks on Tuesday. "It's a shame that Sikhs have to face this treatment time and again. India has a prime minister, who himself is a Sikh, yet it keeps happening again and again.

His government has totally failed in this regard. He has done nothing to protect Sikhs from this unfair and shameful treatment. We keep hearing of such incidents almost every month. Why can't our government do something about it? Why are we always helpless?" he asked.

with thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news.