New Delhi, September 14
Rajya Sabha MP Ashwani Kumar has made a forceful plea to France to address sympathetically the issue of Sikh children wearing turbans in French schools.
Mr Kumar while addressing a visiting Indo-French parliamentary friendship group, said the issue was sensitive.
“In view of the intense sensitivities of our Sikh brethren on the issue of preserving and respecting symbols of their faith and identity, may we request the Government of France through you and the members of your delegation to kindly address the issue of public importance”, Mr Kumar said in his welcome speech.
French Ambassador Dominique Girard in his response assured Mr Kumar that the French Government would soon resolve the issue to the satisfaction of the Sikh community.
Mr Girard further said at the dinner meeting of Mr Kumar that all Sikh children would be able to attend classes consistent with their religious sensitivies in the spirit of liberalism and equality.
The dinner was attended among others by former President K.R. Narayanan and his spouse Usha Narayanan, captains of industry and MPs.
