Yogi’s security staff ask Sikh to remove turban

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, May 27

A local Sikh at Yogi Aditayanath’s “Janata Darbar”at Gorkahpur was today asked to remove his turban before meeting the Chief Minister. The incident occurred on the second day of the CM’s two-day visit to his constituency.

Tejpal Singh, a resident of Dharamshala Market area, was waiting for the Chief Minister at his Gorakhnath Temple ashram. He was asked by security personnel to remove his kirpan. Tejpal reluctantly did so after putting up some resistance. Then as he was about to clear the security cordon, he was told to remove his turban too.

Taken aback, Tejpal refused to oblige and there was a commotion. Others waiting to meet the CM came to Tejpal’s rescue and the security staff had to give in.

Tejpal complained against the security staff to the CM, who reportedly instructed his personal secretary to reprimand the officials.

“My family has been visiting the Gorakhnath Temple ashram for generations. Even when Yogi was MP, I had visited him on several occasions. This is the first time that I have been humiliated in this manner,” a dejected Tejpal said.

SGPC writes to UP CM

Amritsar: Taking a note of the incident, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has appealed to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ensure liberty for Sikhs to wear their religious symbols in his state.

In a communiqué to Yogi Adityanath, SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar has asked the CM to direct his administrative officials to acknowledge and respect Sikh religious symbols.

The SGPC chief said the incident had hurt sentiments of the community and such treatment in their own country was not acceptable.