Amritsar, February 26: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has termed the denial of admission by a school to a 6-year-old boy in Mangalore, Karnataka, as an attack on the religious freedom of Sikhs.
He said earlier in Karnataka, an Amritdhari (initiated) Sikh girl was questioned by a college in Bengaluru, whether she can attend classes by removing her turban or not.
SGPC President said these incidents are in violation of the Constitution of the country as the Indian Constitution gives right to religious freedom to everyone.
Advocate Dhami asked the Karnataka Chief Minister (CM) Sri Basavaraj Bommai to take concrete steps to stop such incidents against Sikhs in the south Indian state.
“The religious freedom of Sikhs is being suppressed in Karnataka and this cannot be tolerated”, said Advocate Dhami.
He said that a delegation of SGPC would soon meet the Karnataka CM to discuss such Sikh issues and a letter has been written to the CM Bommai to fix time for the meeting.
Meanwhile, the SGPC President has also strongly objected to the instructions issued to students in Delhi about not to come in schools with religious attire. He said it is unfortunate that such instructions were issued to the education department by the chairperson of the education committee of South Delhi Municipal Corporation.
“In the name of differences and inequality among the students, the religious concerns and rights are being violated. The government of India should issue strict instructions to every state to make it clear that the religious sentiments and freedom of anyone is not harmed”, said Advocate Dhami.
SGPC President also termed the termination of conditional representation of Punjab in the Bhakra Beas Management Board by the Central government as a violation of Punjab’s rights. He said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi should play a serious role in curbing such incidents of discrimination.