INDIAN SIKHS PROTEST AGAINST U.S. FOR HURTING RELIGIOUS SENTIMENT

NATURAL WITH PUNJABI SPEECH

DURATION: 1.56

SOURCE: ANI

TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS: NO ACCESS BBC

Indian Sikhs protest against U.S. for hurting religious sentiment.

Agitated Indian Sikhs protest against the U.S. for hurting the religious sentiment of the community by asking them to remove their headgear at various U.S. airports.

SHOWS:

AMRITSAR, PUNJAB, INDIA (DECEMBER 15, 2010) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. GURBACHAN SINGH, A SIKH PRIEST, SITTING TO ADDRESS A PRESS CONFERENCE

2. SINGH SITTING

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Punjabi) GURBACHAN SINGH, A SIKH PRIEST, SAYING: “The security check done by officials in U.S. is a serious matter. Resolution of such issues by the Sikh community is very important as it hurts the religious sentiment of the people on issues like wearing the turban.”

4. PROTESTORS PROTESTING

5. A POSTER

6. PROTESTORS SHOUTING SLOGANS

7. PROTESTORS SHOUTING SLOGANS HOLDING AN EFFIGY

8. PROTESTORS SHOUTING SLOGANS

9. PROTESTORS BURNING EFFIGY

10. PROTESTORS SHOUTING SLOGANS

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Punjabi) GURPREET SINGH, A PROTESTOR, SAYING: “The security officials at the airports of countries outside India, especially America, remove the turbans of Sikhs for security measures. It has been happening in Milan as well and the Sikhs are not allowed to wear a turban in schools of France. Our Prime Minister, being a Sikh, should raise the matter. Recently, Barack Obama came but nothing of this sort was discussed.”

12. PROTESTORS AROUND THE BURNING EFFIGY

STORY: Agitated Sikhs in India protested against the U.S. on Wednesday (December 15) for hurting the religious sentiment of the community during security checking at U.S. airports.

The Sikhs were upset after Hardeep Singh Puri, India’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), was asked by U.S airport security staff to remove his turban for security reasons.

The Sikh community considers the turban an inextricable part of their identity to cover their unshorn hair.

Gurbachan Singh, a Sikh priest, while addressing a press conference in northern Amritsar city, said that the way security officials humiliated Puri at the airport is not acceptable and the issue needs a permanent resolution.

“The security check done by officials in U.S. is a serious matter. Resolution of such issues by the Sikh community is very important as it hurts the religious sentiment of the people on issues like wearing the turban,” said Singh.

He added that the Sikh clergy, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), had decided that its president Avtar Singh Makkar and other senior leaders of the community would protest outside the U.S. Embassy against the humiliation of turban in U.S. on December 23, 2010.

Meanwhile, activists of a Sikh organisation, Youth Akali Badal, protested against the U.S. for the same reason.

One of the protestors said that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being a Sikh himself should take up the issue with authorities for a permanent resolution of the matter.

“The security officials at the airports of countries outside India, especially America, remove the turbans of Sikhs for security measures. It has been happening in Milan as well and the Sikhs are not allowed to wear a turban in schools of France. Our Prime Minister, being a Sikh, should raise the matter. Recently, Barack Obama came but nothing of this sort was discussed,” said Gurpreet Singh, one of the protestors.

The protestors also burned an effigy while protesting against on the issue.

Earlier in the day, a Sikh delegation met Timothy J. Roemer, Ambassador of U.S. in New Delhi on Wednesday to submit a memorandum to the American President against hurting religious sentiments of the Sikh community by asking them to remove their headgear at U.S. airports.

The U.S. security measures were tightened following the 9/11 attacks.