Amritsar, April 8, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami has taken strict notice and ordered an investigation in the case of Sikh students being forced to take of Karra (iron bracelet) and of putting tape on the same, during the JEE Mains examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) at SAS Nagar (Mohali) on April 6.
Along with the investigation in this regard, Harjinder Singh Dhami has also directed to write a letter to the Chairman of NTA, to express strong objection to this discrimination against the Sikh candidates.
Sharing information in this regard, SGPC secretary Partap Singh said that a Sikh candidate has brought to the notice of the organization that he went to appear in the JEE Mains examination conducted by NTA at a private center in Mohali on April 6.
He said that as per the Sikh candidate, the staff of the examination center asked him to forcibly remove his Karra, which is not acceptable and is a violation of the country’s constitution.
He said that when the Sikh candidate opposed this forcible action, he was allowed to sit in the paper only after a packaging tape was placed on his wrist to cover Karra.
Partap Singh said that the discrimination done by the examination centers against the Sikh candidates is hurting their mentality.
He said that before the paper, the behavior of the center staff of the concerned agencies with the Sikh candidates affects their mentality, which also affects their performance in the examination.
He said that Karra is one of the five Kakaars (symbols of faith) of Sikhs and it is an important part of Sikh identity, fundamental rights, which cannot be separated from the body of a Sikh.
Partap Singh said that as per the order of SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, Lakhbir Singh assistant secretary at SGPC’s Chandigarh sub-office, preacher Rajpal Singh and journalist of SGPC’s IT Department Jaskaran Singh have been tasked to conduct an investigation in this matter.
He said that strong objection regarding this incident will also be raised with the NTA and further action will be taken as per the report received.
