From now on, no Sikh employee will be able to carry a kirpan with him during duty at the airport. Regarding this, The Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCAS) had issued orders on 30 October. BCAS said in its order that Sikh employees working at airports will not be able to wear kirpan in view of security.
Let us tell you that a day earlier, the employees of all the airports got this guideline. BCAS has said that these orders were issued due to security protocols. Controversy has started since the release of the guidelines.
Orders were also issued in 2022
This is not the first time, earlier in the year 2022, the Aviation Ministry had issued orders not to carry kirpan to Sikh employees at Indian airports. After this order, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami wrote a letter to the ministry saying that by doing this the ministry is trying to take away the freedom of Sikhs. After this the ministry had withdrawn its orders.
Kirpan is a sacred symbol in Sikhism
On the other hand, Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh of Sri Damdama Sahib criticized this decision and called it a violation of religious freedom. Along with this, he said that Kirpan is a sacred symbol in Sikhism and wearing it is a religious right. The orders of the Aviation Authority to Sikhs to not wear Kirpan while on duty are wrong.
The Indian Constitution gives freedom to wear religious symbols
Giani Harpreet Singh said that the Indian Constitution gives freedom to Sikhs to wear their religious symbols. It includes five Ks (Kesh, Kada, Kangha, Kachha, and Kirpan), which are extremely important for Sikhs.