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‘Take up Sikh issues with Sarkozy’

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to utilise the upcoming visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy to settle the issues related to violations of rights of minorities, especially the dispute related to the ban on wearing turban in French educational institutions which affects the Sikhs directly.

According to a party communiqué here, Akali Dal working president and MP Sukhbir Singh Badal requested Dr. Singh to arrange a meeting of Sikh representatives with the French President so that the sentiments of the community are conveyed to him. He expressed anguish and concern over “rising incidents of racial prejudices and violation of human rights in France”.

In separate communications to Dr. Singh and the French Ambassador to India, Jerome Bonnafont, Mr. Badal called for immediate steps to ensure that violations of human rights affecting the Indians, especially the Sikhs, are stopped. He urged the Prime Minister to take a tough and clear stand with Mr. Sarkozy so that the confidence of the Punjabis and Sikhs could be restored.

The Akali leader hoped that Dr. Singh, who himself sports a turban, would bring to the notice of the visiting dignitary the issues of violation of basic religious liberties of the Sikhs in that country. He insisted that the issue related to the ban on wearing of turban in France be taken up seriously with the French authorities in India’s national interest.

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