Desecration of Sikh turban by Punjab Police
All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) has demanded today the resignation from Parkash Singh Badal over the disturbing incident in Mohali, state of Punjab ruled by Akali Dal (Badal), when a young Sikh man’s turban was forcibly removed in broad day light by a police officer on the orders of another senior officer of Punjab Police. "This is an insult to the Sikh Gurus and the whole of the Sikh community. It is a gross violation of a Sikh's human rights and the simple requirement for the respect of one's right to a unfettered religious, family and private life", said Judge Anup Singh.
According to Karnail Singh Peermohammad, President AISSF, Mohali incident proves that SAD (Badal and his political associates) have not only failed to protect the dignity of Sikh articles of faith but they are also engaged in intentional desecration of Sikh turban.
This is a public insult of Sikhs
The incident took place on March 28, 2011 when pharmacists from Punjab exercising their fundamental right gathered in Mohali for a peaceful sit-in to high light their demands. Punjab police on the orders of Badal Government first cane charged the gathering in which women were beaten mercilessly by Punjab Police. Not satisfied after beating the women, senior officers of Punjab Police then ordered the police to forcibly remove turbans of Sikhs who were present in the gathering. A footage with audio and video clearly showing a Sikh police officer order another police officer to forcibly remove a Sikh’s turban has emerged.
According to Peermohammad, forcibly removing the turban of a Sikh by the Punjab Police is insult of Sikh religion and Parkash Singh Badal as head of Punjab Government should take the legal and moral responsibility of Punjab Police’s action and should resign. The current SGPC leadership which propagates itself to be protector of Sikh rights and has met foreign governments over the issue of turban frisking should also resign from their seats for maintaining criminal silence over the outrageous desecration of Sikh religious symbol by Punjab Police, added Peermohammad.
AISSF appealed all Panthic Parties to meet on April 14, 2011 to chalk out a unanimous plan to protect the dignity and respect of Sikh articles of faith which is under by present Punjab government with the connivance of SGPC.
Punjab Police a "Terrorist Organization"
Sikhs for Justice have vowed to Campaign to Declare Punjab Police as "Terrorist Organization”. In an article in the Sikh Times they have stated:
In a disturbing incident in Mohali, a young Sikh man’s turban was forcibly removed in broad day light by a police officer on the orders of another senior officer of Punjab Police. The incident proves that SAD (Badal) have not only failed to protect the dignity of Sikh articles of faith but they are also engaged in intentional desecration of Sikh turban.
The incident took place on March 28, 2011 when pharmacists from Punjab exercising their fundamental right gathered in Mohali for a peaceful sit-in to high light their demands. Punjab police on the orders of Badal Government first cane charged the gathering in which women were beaten mercilessly by Punjab Police. Not satisfied after beating the women, senior officers of Punjab Police then ordered the police to forcibly remove turbans of Sikhs who were present in the gathering.
A footage with audio and video clearly showing a Sikh police officer order another police officer to forcibly remove a Sikh’s turban has emerged. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONYV8hUKN3Y) According to human rights lawyer and legal advisor to SJF Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, forcibly removing the turban of a Sikh is the worst form of religious persecution and violation of Sikh human rights, especially when it takes place in Punjab, the homeland of Sikhs under the government headed by a Sikh.
Support SFJ and AISSF: Community asked to stay calm
Concerned with the growing slogans of revenge for Mohali incident vocalized on the web, SFJ coordination committee appealed to the Sikh community not to take law into their hands and instead support SFJ and AISSF in perusing legal course of action over the Mohali incident.
SFJ will approach the governments of United States, Canada and European Union to declare Punjab Police as a “terrorist organization” for the recent incidents of torture in custody, extra judicial killings and blatant desecration of Sikh articles of faith in Mohali, all of which establish a practice and policy of Punjab Police of violating Sikh human rights.
See also
- Turban
- Why I wear a Turban?
- Importance of Turban
- Turban and the law
- Gurbani and the turban
- Struggle for the right to wear the turban
- Sikhs and their Turban
- Referee tells Sikh boy to remove turban
- International Turban Day
- Styles of Sikh turban
- First High court judge to wear turban
- Turban, UK Legislation Regarding its use by Sikhs
- Turban Spiritually
