The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the organisation responsible for the management of gurdwaras, on Thursday has strongly objected to a college in Bengaluru, Karnataka, asking a Sikh girl to take off her turban and come to the college.
A 17-year-old Amritdhari, a Sikh girl, was asked by the college in Bengaluru to take off her turban, citing the college has a uniform dress code.
The female student from Mount Carmel PU College in Bengaluru was first asked to take her turban off, citing Karnataka High Court’s interim order that prohibits students from wearing saffron shawls, hijab, religious flags or the like in classrooms of colleges that have recommended a dress code.
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has written a letter in this regard to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, asking him to ensure the preservation of religious freedom of Sikhs in the state and also reminding them of their contribution to India.
It is unacceptable to ask Sikhs to remove their turban, as it is an integral of their faith, he said in the letter. SGPC letter to Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri Basavaraj Bommai Ji, regarding issue of Sikh turban in the state.@BSBommai @CMofKarnataka @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/dQPitciplp— Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) (@SGPCAmritsar) February 24, 2022
“It cannot be tolerated to force Sikhs to remove their turban in their own country. It is an unconstitutional decision that will never be accepted. Turban is very important in Sikh faith and it is an integral part of Sikh dress. Forcing anybody to remove the dastar (turban) is in violation of Sikh traditions and principles,” Mr. Dhami wrote.
“The questions are being raised on the turban of Sikhs in India, where turban-wearing Sikhs have served as the President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice and Army Chief. Sikhs all over the world wear a turban and are working on various top positions, whereas, in their own country India, turbans are being challenged,” the letter adds.
The letter demanded the Karnataka government take action against those who were obstructing the religious freedom of the Sikhs.
Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also urged CM Bommai to immediately intervene in the matter and take necessary action.
