Sikh Children are denied admissions to French schools with their turbans. Many of them have been expelled for this reason. Sikhs are also required to remove their turbans for photographs on ID document, for licence etc.
United Sikhs (international) has taken up this matter with the French Courts of Law and the Singh Legal Foundation has been engaged in a legal battle with the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The support of the GOI on this very important Sikh right has been at best lukewarm. The GOI has invited the President of the Republic of France as guest of honour for the Republic Day. The ISC has approached the Honourable CM, Punjab, GOI, Sikh religio – political organisations and the venerable Akal Takht to take up this vital issue of the Sikhs with the visiting President of France.
A meeting has been sought with the honourable PM of India and appointment is awaited. Thousands of Sikh School children took out a peaceful candle-light procession from Gurudwara Bangla Sahib to Jantar Mantar on 19 th evening in support of this cause.
This is a vital issue for the Sikhs as one of their fundamental rights is being denied by a country which is trying to befriend India for economic reasons. Thousands of Sikhs laid down then lives for the freedom of France in the two World Wars in the 20 th century – a sacrifice which is being ungratefully ignored.
Right to practice one’s religion is a basic human right, guaranteed to be protected under all international conventions and constitutions.
We expect the nation and its leaders to put aside their political differences and use all means at their disposal in protecting this right of the Sikhs and getting this ban removed.
The GOI should take up this issue all earnestness and sincerity with the visiting French President as was done in the case of an individual businessman by the name of Mr. Laxmi Mittal.
In pursuance of an earlier appeal to Sikhs/Sikh organisations, we propose to hold a peaceful march from Gurudwara Sahib, Sector 34 Chandigarh to the office of Alliance Francaise in Sector 36 to submit a memorandum for the French President starting 11AM on 24 Jan. 08.
ALL SIKHS/SIKH ORGANISATIONS OF CHANDIGARH ARE REQUESTED TO REACH GURUDWARA SAHIB SECTOR 34D AT 11 AM ON 24 JAN. 2008. THE ROUTE OF THE “PROTEST MARCH” WILL BE VIA THE CENTRAL ROADS OF SECTOR 34, 35 AND 36 TO ALLIANCE FRANCEAISE IN SECTOR 36. A MEMORANDUM ADDRESSED TO THE FRENCH PRESIDENT WILL BE SUBMITTED PEACEFULLY FOR ONWARD CONVEYANCE TO THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN NEW DELHI.
Lt. Gen. Kartar Singh Gill PVSM (Retd.)
(For All Organisations)
