National Times Bureau :- The Shromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President, Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, honoured Gurpreet Kaur, a young Sikh woman, for firmly standing by her Sikh identity during a recent incident in Rajasthan.
Gurpreet Kaur was reportedly stopped from appearing in a judicial service examination in Rajasthan after she refused to remove her kirpan and kara two of the five sacred (Kakaars) of faith worn by Amritdhari Sikhs. The exam authorities allegedly asked her to remove them before entering the venue, but she declined, citing the Sikh Rehat Maryada (Code of Conduct). As a result, she was denied entry to the exam.
SGPC President Advocate Dhami, while honouring her, said that the Indian Constitution grants full rights to Sikhs to wear the kirpan, and that no Amritdhari Sikh can be forced to part with the five Kakaars. He criticized the exam officials’ behaviour, calling it a violation of religious freedom and an unjust act that harmed the future of a sincere candidate.
He urged the Chief Minister of Rajasthan to take serious note of the matter and offer Gurpreet Kaur a special chance to appear in the exam, which she missed solely due to religious discrimination.
Gurpreet Kaur expressed her gratitude to the SGPC for the support and honour she received.
Dignitaries Present at the Honour Ceremony
The event was also attended by SGPC General Secretary Sher Singh Mandwala, interim member Sukhharpreet Singh Rode, members Sukhvarsh Singh Pannu, Khushvinder Singh Bhatia, Gurnam Singh Jassal, Mohan Singh Bangi, Jathedar Kaur Singh, Bibi Harjinder Kaur, Bibi Joginder Kaur, Charan Singh Alamgir, Secretary Pratap Singh, and Gurpreet Kaur’s family members.
