Will take up turban issue with France: Cameron

Thursday, 21/02/2013

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130221/punjab.htm#1

Amritsar : During his visit to the Golden Temple today, Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron assured SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar that he would take up the issue of turban ban in France schools with the French Government.

Makkar had written to the Prime Minister, saying that Britain, being a member of the European Union (EU), could prevail upon France to allow schoolchildren of Sikh faith to wear the turban. He told the British Premier today that France, despite being a founding member of the UN, was not ready to follow the decision of its committee, asking it to abide by the decision of the EU in the matter.

To a question, Makkar said the issue of Britain returning the Kohinoor to the Sikh Panth was not raised with Cameron.

The British Prime Minister, accompanied by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, his head covered, went around the Parkarma and bowed before Guru Granth Sahib at the sanctum sanctorum. He then went to Sri Guru Ram Das Langar Hall but did not eat langar.

At the sanctum sanctorum, Head Granthi Giani Mal Singh handed over a siropa (robe of honour) to the visiting dignitary who patiently listened to the rendering of Gurbani. Later, he visited Akal Takht. Badal gifted the British Premier an encyclopaedia on Sikhism and a shawl. The SGPC chief presented him a set of books, including “Sikhs in Great Britain,” and a picture book, “The Golden Temple of Amritsar Reflections of the Past”, and a model of the Golden Temple.

On the sidelines...

The British PM went barefoot inside the Golden Temple complex. Queen Elizabeth II, during her visit to the Golden Temple in 1997, had worn a pair of socks, triggering a row

The British Prime Minister shook hands and freely intermingled with the devotees

A spat erupted between photojournalists and policemen when one of the lensmen fell unconscious. The policemen on duty refused to open the enclosure gates to enable his colleagues to fetch water. The matter was resolved on the intervention of the Chief Minister, who said action would be taken against the erring policemen.

Indian mediapersons were not allowed to enter the Jallianwala Bagh complex. This privilege was reserved for the English media. However, photojournalists were allowed to capture the event after much pursuasion

The British dignitary posed several queries to Jallianwala Bagh Trust officials. He spent a good time at the historic well