Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal national spokesperson Sukhminder Singh Rajpal has strongly condemned the alleged lathi-charge by Chandigarh Police on students at Panjab University and the reported removal of their turbans during the incident.
In a statement issued from Jalandhar, Rajpal said the turban is an integral part of a Sikh’s identity and that forcing students’ turbans off during police action amounts to disrespecting Sikh sentiments and the dignity of Sikh traditions.
He said students have the democratic right to express their views peacefully and alleged that the use of force by the administration to suppress their voices was unjustified.
Rajpal claimed that university students had been raising concerns related to Sikh sentiments for some time, but their demands were allegedly ignored by the university administration. Instead, he alleged, the police resorted to a lathi-charge to silence their protest.
Calling the incident a matter of serious concern, the Akali Dal leader said Sikh religious sentiments must be respected, especially given the community’s contribution to the country’s development. He demanded strict action against officials responsible for the alleged removal of students’ turbans, stating that those found guilty should not be spared.
