New Delhi, February 12
The proposed French ban on wearing ostensible religious symbols in
public schools has been listed on the agenda of the talks between
visiting French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin and External
Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha.
National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Chairperson Tarlochan
Singh who had requested the inclusion of the sensitive issue in de
Villepin’s dialogue with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and
Yashwant Sinha said that he had got a positive intimation from the
MEA.
Mr Tarlochan Singh will voice the concern of 20 million Sikhs in
India to the proposed ban on religious symbols when be meets Mr
Villepin at Imperial Hotel here on Friday.
France’s lower House of Parliament on Tuesday voted
overwhelmingly to ban students from wearing Islamic headscarves and
other religious apparel in public schools. The measure was approved
494-36.
The NCM Chairperson told TNS he would apprise Mr Villepin of the
significance of turban in Sikh religion. “Wearing turban is not an
exhibition of religious symbols. It is an integral part of Sikh
tenets,” he said.
Several Sikh organisations have launched a signature campaign to
place on record their opposition to the proposed legislation. A delegation
of Sikhs led by Vikramjit Singh Sahney, International President of
World Punjabi Organisation met French Ambassador, Dominique Girard and
submitted a memorandum signed by 100,000 Sikhs.
