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Sikh employees' Kirpan ban at Indian airports sparks calls for reform
Sikh advocacy groups urge Indian authorities to amend aviation rules barring Sikh employees from wearing kirpans.
Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) and the FlyAmritsar Initiative (FAI) raised concerns. / Image - Facebook/ AVM, FAI
Sikh advocacy organizations such as Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) and the FlyAmritsar Initiative (FAI) have officially urged Indian authorities to revise recent airport security regulations that prohibit Sikh employees from wearing kirpans, a significant religious symbol, during their work hours.
This appeal follows a directive from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) issued on October 30, allowing Sikh passengers to carry kirpans with blades under six inches on domestic flights, while clearly prohibiting Sikh employees from wearing kirpans while on airport duty.
The directive has led to reported incidents, including at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar, where Sikh employees have been denied entry to terminal areas following security checks, thus impeding their professional duties.
The AVM and FAI submitted appeals to several high-ranking officials, including Harjinder Singh Dhami, president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Iqbal Singh Lalpura, chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), and Rammohan Naidu, Minister for Civil Aviation.
"The right to practice one's faith should not be limited by employment; this directive places an undue burden on Sikh employees," stated Sameep Singh Gumtala, of the FlyAmritsar Initiative. He noted that international policies in countries like the U.K. and Canada allow Sikh airport employees to wear kirpans while balancing security considerations.
Furthermore, AVM and FAI highlighted instances where Sikh passengers were required to remove symbolic items such as the khanda and kanga at Indian airports, despite no similar restrictions when departing from other countries. Kulwant Singh Ankhi, AVM Patron, remarked, "Religious freedoms should not be compromised within one’s own country."
The organizations have urged the SGPC, NCM, and Ministry of Civil Aviation to address these concerns promptly, advocating for revisions to the BCAS policy to uphold the rights of Sikh employees and passengers and ensure that religious symbols are respected in Indian airports.
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