M A I N   N E W S

France unlikely to lift ban on turban
Ashok Tuteja/TNS

New Delhi, October 20
Asserting that there was no discrimination against the Sikh community in France, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe today virtually ruled out lifting the ban on wearing turban in his country.

“France believes in democracy and freedom. For us, religion must not interfere in political and daily life. We have passed a legislation banning the use of religious signs in public places,” he said at a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister SM Krishna after wide-ranging talks between the two leaders.

He went on to say that the Sikhs were treated like the Christians, Jews and members of other communities in France and hoped a solution could be found to the stand-off on the issue through talks between the departments concerned of India and France.

The ban on turban in France followed by some other European countries taking a similar action has caused a lot of concern in India, particularly among the members of the Sikh community. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders have taken up the matter with Paris from time to time but in vain.

Krishna also conveyed to his French counterpart the sentiments of the Sikh community on the issue. He said New Delhi was pursuing the matter with the European Union too and hoped to find a solution.

“The turban is a symbol of dignity. It is a sensitive issue for every Indian. We had discussions with the French to find a mutually acceptable solution. I have also written to the Italian Foreign Minister on the problems faced by the Sikhs at the airports in that country. We are pursuing the matter with the EU as well,” he added.

Even as concerns increase over the safety of nuclear facilities in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in March, India and France have renewed their commitment to go ahead with nuclear reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra and resolved to deepen their cooperation in areas ranging from terrorism to the global financial crisis.

Civil nuclear cooperation figured prominently in talks between the two ministers. “We discussed the issue of safety related to civil nuclear cooperation with India. Nuclear energy is a vital source of power provided we develop the highest standards of safety,” French Minister Juppe said.

“France is determined to be completely open on the steps we have taken for safety,” he said, adding that safety provisions would be woven into the final agreement on EPR (European Pressurised Reactors). Krishna underlined India s commitment to the Jaitapur plant. “We are awaiting the French safety reviews of EPRs. We are committed to highest standards of safety,” he said.