Chandigarh, July 1, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today apprised Rajasthan chief minister Bhajal Lal Sharma that the Sikh community was perturbed that the Rajasthan government had not taken any action against examination staff who had hurt the religious sentiments of two baptized Sikh women who were prevented from entering a examination centre in Jodhpur during the conduct of the Rajasthan Judicial Services examination on June 23.
In a letter to the chief minister, the Bathinda MP said the action of the examination staff had not only hurt the religious sentiments of the two baptized Sikh women and the community, but was also in violation of Article 25 of the constitution which gives members of the Sikh religion the right to wear the Kakaars. “This is a fundamental right and cannot be violated”, Mrs Harsimrat Badal asserted.
The MP also informed the chief minister that the Sikh community was perturbed that the Rajasthan government had not taken any action in the matter despite appeals made to him by the Shiromani Akali Dal as well as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the representative religious body of the community.
Giving details of the case, Mrs Badal said the two Sikh women – Bibi Armanjot Kaur and Bibi Lakhwinder Kaur were barred from admission into the examination centre because they refused to remove their ‘kakar’ (Sikh religious symbol) kirpan.
She said later it was revealed that Lakhwinder Kaur was forced to remove her ‘kara’ and ‘kirpan’ in order to appear in the examination. “The examination staff was adamant on forcing the women to remove their Kakaar despite the fact that the women apprised them that they were an intrinsic part of their faith and were to be adorned throughout their life”.
Mrs Badal in her letter to the chief minister also disclosed that this action was taken despite the fact that the Kakaar were not listed in the ‘prohibited list’.
“The examination staff presumed that they fell in the category of ‘extra items’ and treated them as same”.
Asserting that the Kakaars were not ‘extra items’ but an essential part of the daily wear of baptized Sikhs, Mrs Badal said “it is shocking that this incident has occurred in a State which has a sizable Sikh population and where officials as well as examination staff is supposed to know about the Sikh articles of faith”.
She also asserted that the action violated Article 25 of the constitution which gives members of the Sikh religion the right to wear the Kakaars.
Mrs Badal also urged the chief minister to take into account the mental agony the two baptized Sikh women have passed through and direct that due action under appropriate sections of law should be taken against the examination staff that went beyond their call of duty and were party to an illegal act.
She said it was also unfortunate that one of the women – Lakhwinder Kaur had approached the Jodhpur police to register a complaint against the examination staff but she was not entertained. “This situation should be corrected immediately.
Members of the Sikh community should not be made to feel like second class citizens in their own country for which they have made maximum sacrifices”.
The MP also urged the chief minister to pass directions to all government bodies in Rajasthan to sensitize them about the Sikh Kakaars to ensure this kind of discrimination did not occur against any member of the Sikh community in the State again. EOM
