Amritsar-The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has strongly condemned the action of booking an initiated Sikh Gurbachan Singh for wearing Kirpan (sword) in Milan city of Italy in the recent past.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the Kirpan is one of the five Kakaars (symbols of faith) of Sikhs, which as per Sikh code of conduct an Amritdhari (initiated) Sikh always keeps on his body. He said that separating the Kirpan from the body of an initiated Sikh is against the religious freedom of Sikhs.
The SGPC President said that the Constitution of their country India also gives freedom to Sikhs to wear Kirpan, therefore the Italian government should also consider Sikh concerns and give freedom to Sikhs to wear Kirpan in their country. He said that today Sikhs live in many countries of the world where they have made great achievements with their hard work and honesty. He said that even in developed countries like the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom, Sikhs are allowed to wear Kirpan. He also appealed to the Sikh community of Italy to strongly oppose the case registered against Gurbachan Singh and to communicate the entire information of his case to the SGPC.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that in order to get this case cancelled, the Ambassador of Italy in India and the Ministry of External Affairs of India will also be written to express strong objection and information about the rights of Sikhs and the importance of Kirpan will be sent. He also appealed to Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S Jaishankar to get the case of Gurbachan Singh cancelled by negotiating with the Italian government.