Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) wishes Premier Modi a fruitful visit to France and hopes it he will have the French ban on the Sikh headgear the turban lifted. Simranjit Singh Mann, Member of Parliament. Dated 13th July 2023.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) wishes a fruitful visit of Premier Narinder Modi to France. It must be said that the Lahore Darbar (Sikh Empire 1799-1849) established diplomatic relations with France in 1833 and Emperor Louis Philippe. Exchanges in trade began. With this long relationship with the Sikhs we hope Premier Modi will speak with President Emmanuel Macron of lifting the French ban on Sikhs wearing their traditional headgear, the turban, as it is the practice all over Asia, the Middle East, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Burma and South East Asia.
Since some defence deals are to be struck we hope they will come with the parting of the latest technology by France, which otherwise is weary of not passing on the technology with its exported weaponry.
Our party’s Chairman S. Chain Singh of Europe may kindly bring these points to the notice of the visiting Premier and the French President.
Last time when a Sikh Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited France our party’s Chairman Chain Singh wanted to meet him and ask him to bring this customary Sikh headgear to the notice of the French Government. But being a Sikh S. Manmohan Singh thought that this sentiment of the Sikhs need not be passed on to the French Government lest it thinks a Sikh Prime Minister is speaking of his own people and S. Manmohan Singh felt it would be an embarrassment to him. So he told his National Security Advisor who was accompanying him to speak to the French Sikh delegation led by Chairman Chain Singh.
We do hope that such a need of the Sikhs will not deter Premier Modi to speak clearly and have the French ban on the Sikh headgear lifted.
Since Premier Modi is going to France for celebrations of Bastille Day he must understand that these celebrations mean the success of the French Revolution of 1789 and the end of the Ancien Régime and setting free of all political prisoners. Therefore, Premier Modi must set free all Sikh political prisoners held in prisons for the last 32 years. That would mean that Premier Modi’s visit to France on Bastille Day is a success and meaningful.
Simranjit Singh Mānn,
Member of Parliament,
President,
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)
Email simranjitsinghmann@yahoo.com
Website https://akalidalamritsar.in/
Facebook page Simranjit Singh Mann Fatehgarh Sahib