Waris row: DSGMC chief asks India, US to frame guidelines for Sikhs’ safety

Wednesday, 10/02/2016

http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

NEW DELHI: Taking strong exception to barring of IndianAmerican designer and model Waris Ahluwalia from boarding a flight because he refused to remove his turban, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK on Tuesday said that he would be writing to Indian and American governments to put in place a set of guidelines so that the Sikhs do not face such problems in the future.

“I am writing to the authorities concerned in both Indian and American governments that there must be some guidelines as Sikhs are facing problems...they are being attacked in America and European countries because of their mistaken identity,” said Manjit Singh.

“Waris is a world renowned model, whose photos appear on billboards for big brands at America’s Times Square and stopping him at the airport just because of his attire (turban) draws condemnations, and I condemn it,” he said, adding that if a person like Waris could be stopped at the airport then what would happen to the ordinary Sikhs.

“It happened to me also when I was in Rome (Italy). I was asked to remove my turban, but I never did it. The governments around the globe need to educate their people about the Sikh religion, which stands for brotherhood, equality, non-violence,” he said.

Giving details, Ahluwalia, 41, based in Manhattan, said he checked in at Aeromexico airline’s counter at Mexico City’s international airport, he was given his first-class boarding pass with code ‘SSSS’ that he said meant that he needed secondary security screening.

When he Ahluwalia showed up at the gate to board Flight 408 to New York City, attendants told him he needed to step aside and wait for other passengers to board. His feet and bag were searched and swabbed. He was told to remove his sweatshirt and was patted down, the New York Times reported.

Then, he said, he was asked to take off his turban. “I responded... that I won’t be taking off my turban...and then they talked amongst themselves and said, ‘OK, then you are not getting on the flight.’”

“It is a symbol of my faith,” Ahluwalia said, explaining why he would not remove the turban. “It is something that I wear whenever I am in public.”

A spokesman for the airline told CNN that Ahluwalia “was asked to submit to a screening and inspection before boarding, in strict compliance with TSA protocol.” “We have offered the passenger (two) alternatives to reach his destination as soon as possible,” spokesman Amilcar Olivares said. “We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused by this incident.”

The incident drew swift condemnation on social media and from the head of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Steven Kolb described the situation as “outrageous” and described Ahluwalia as “overall the nicest guy in our industry.”