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Sikh organizations urge reform on traveling with Kirpan
They have encouraged Indian authorities and Sikh leaders to revise policies that safeguard religious freedoms at airports.
FlyAmristar Initiative and Amritsar Vikas Manch. / Image - FAI, AVM
Sikh advocacy organizations, FlyAmritsar Initiative (FAI) and Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) have issued a call for immediate policy reforms in response to reports that Sikh passengers are being denied the opportunity to wear their kirpan and khanda necklaces at Indian airports.
These religious articles, essential to Amritdhari Sikhs, are being confiscated by security personnel at major Indian airports, including Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar and Delhi International Airports, the organizations claimed urging the Indian government to revise security protocols to safeguard both national security and religious freedom.
The organizations highlight that the kirpan, worn as a small necklace (often less than one inch in size), is a fundamental article of the Sikh faith. Despite these miniature kirpans being permitted on domestic flights, they are being removed by security at Indian airports for international flights, causing emotional distress and confusion among Sikh passengers, the said in a statement.
They also claimed that this restriction is exclusive to Indian airports, as Sikh passengers traveling internationally from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Netherlands do not encounter such challenges.
“Many Sikh passengers traveling internationally from Amritsar and Delhi have reported being forced to remove their kirpans, which is a violation of their right to practice their faith,” said Sameep Singh Gumtala, global convener of FAI. The organizations argue that this policy directly contradicts the constitutional protection of religious freedom in India, as outlined in the Indian Constitution.
FAI and AVM are calling for intervention from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and relevant Sikh leadership, including Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president S. Harjinder Singh Dhami, to address the issue. They urge the government to revise policies to ensure that religious freedoms are upheld without compromising security at Indian airports.
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