Punjab: Akal Takht and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have strongly condemned the recent action of booking an ‘Amritdhari’ Sikh Gurbachan Singh for carrying a kirpan (sword) in Milan city of Italy.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh said that the Kirpan is one of the five Kakars (symbols of faith) of the Sikhs, which, according to the Sikh code of conduct, an Amritdhari Sikh always keeps on his body. He said that separating the kirpan from the body of an initiated Sikh is against the religious freedom of the Sikhs.
SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami appealed to the Sikh community of Italy to strongly oppose the case registered against Gurbachan Singh and asked to give complete information about his case to SGPC.
Dhami said that in order to get this case canceled, the Italian Ambassador to India and the Ministry of External Affairs of India will also be written to intervene and information will be sent about the rights of Sikhs and the importance of Kirpan.
“Sikhs live in many countries of the world where they have achieved great achievements through their hard work and honesty. Even in developed countries like the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, Sikhs are allowed to wear kirpans,” the SGPC president said.
