A Sikh candidate on Sunday alleged that she was stopped from appearing for the Rajasthan High Court (Jodhpur) Civil Judge recruitment exam as she was wearing a kirpan.In a video that surfaced online, Gurpreet Kaur of Pheloke village in Tarn Taran alleged that she was refused entry without any clear explanation regarding the permissible size of kirpan and kara.Reacting to it, Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj termed the incident “a grave violation of the Constitution and an act of religious discrimination against the Sikhs”.Giani Gargaj questioned the BJP-led Rajasthan Government about its claim of working for safeguarding the interests of the Sikhs.He said the entire world knows that amritdhari Sikhs wear a kirpan as a mandatory article of faith, yet they were being repeatedly targeted in India for their distinct identity and beliefs.He said similar discrimination had taken place during the same recruitment process last year in Jaipur and Jodhpur.”While the nation is commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur — protector of tilak and janjhu (sacred marks and thread of Hindu faith) — the Sikh symbols are simultaneously being questioned and denied,” said Giani Gargaj.He directed the SGPC and the SAD to form a high-level delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Registrar of the Rajasthan High Court to look into the matter.SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami termed the incident unfortunate and asked the Rajasthan Government to probe the issue.Sukhbir demands PM Modi’s interventionSAD president Sukhbir Singh BadalChandigarh: Expressing grave concern over “growing incidents of disrespect and discrimination against the sacred symbols of Sikh religion”, SAD president Sukhbir Singh urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene. In a letter to the Prime Minister, he said the incident was a gross violation of her constitutional rights under Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees Fundamental Right to Freedom of Religion.”Article 25 of the Constitution specifically mentions ‘kirpan’ among other symbols of Sikh religion, which are exempt from any bar even in flights,” said Sukhbir.”It is shocking that rules, if any, are framed by lower authorities flouting the sacred Constitution of India. The Government of India should issue or, if necessary, re-issue clear cut guidelines to all states and Union Territories about the exemption to the inseparable articles of faith,” said Sukhbir in his letter to the Prime Minister.The Akali chief said this was not a one off incident but part of the ever increasing number of examples of religious intolerance towards the uniqueness of Sikh identity.Sukhbir also urged the Rajasthan High Court to provide Gurpreet Kaur a special opportunity to appear for the examination, ensuring her right to uphold her faith is respected.Constitutional rights violated: BJP’s LalpuraIqbal Singh Lalpura,BJP leaderRopar: Iqbal Singh Lalpura, former Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities and a member of the national parliamentary board of the BJP, sought intervention of Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde.The kirpan is explicitly protected under Article 25(2) (b), and restricting its use in a public examination setting constitutes not just a denial of religious freedom but also a breach of equality under Article 16, he said.Lalpura urged the Law Ministry and the Rajasthan Government to immediately formulate and implement uniform guidelines to safeguard the rights of Sikh candidates in all public service examinations.
Denied entry to Rajasthan exam for wearing kirpan, alleges Sikh candidate; Gargaj says act of religious discrimination
