M A I N   N E W S

Italian envoy summoned over turban removal of Jeev’s coach
Ashok Tuteja & Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 23
Enraged over top golfer Jeev Milkha Singh’s coach Amritinder Singh being asked to remove his turban for a security check at the Milan Airport for the second time, New Delhi today lodged a strong protest with the Italian Government over the incident. The issue also generated intense heat in the Rajya Sabha with External Affairs Minister SM Krishna terming the incident as an insult to the nation. Hours after members in the Upper House asked the government to take up the matter with the Italian authorities, Vivek Katju, Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry, called Italian Ambassador Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte to the foreign office and conveyed to him New Delhi’s unhappiness over the incident.

Amritinder’s harassment regrettable, says Italian Ambassador After the second instance of harassment involving Amritinder Singh, the Italian Ambassador to India has regretted the incident, calling it an isolated one. He has also assured that he would seek the Italian authorities to ensure non-recurrence of such cases in the future and adherence to laid down security regulations that take into consideration the religious sentiments of the Sikhs.

Katju asked the Italian envoy to convey New Delhi’s strong feelings to the Italian authorities at the highest level so that there was an appreciation of the significance of the turban for the Sikh community and the Indian nation. The Italian Ambassador expressed his ‘deep regret’ and said the Italian authorities at the highest level had been seized of the matter. A probe was being conducted into the incident. He added that security guidelines have to be implemented keeping religious sentiments in mind.

Talking to reporters at the South Block after the meeting, Ambassador Monteforte said: “The matter is a very disturbing one… it has been brought to the notice of Rome.” India had issued a demarche to Italy after a similar incident last week when Amritinder was forced to take off his turban at the Milan Airport. However, despite the expression of "regret" by Italy, security officials at the airport yesterday again asked Amritinder to remove his turban or miss the flight. In the Rajya Sabha, meanwhile, the government said dishonour to Sikhs was a national insult Responding to a BJP member’s charge that India was not able to convince Italy that the turban was a symbol of religious respect for the Sikhs, Krishna asserted: “Whenever there is an insult to Sikhs, we take it as a national insult. We take it (the matter) up in that spirit.”