NEW DELHI: As French President Nicolas Sarkozy landed in Delhi on Sunday, government sources indicated that the contentious issue of Sikh turbans in France would again be taken up with the French side. The government is expected to politely convey to Sarkozy how strongly India feels about the issue when he holds delegation-level talks with PM Manmohan Singh on Monday.
Sarkozy had an informal meeting over dinner with Singh after landing in Delhi from Agra on Sunday evening. In the past too, Singh has taken up the issue with Sarkozy and while the president has displayed understanding of the situation, Sikh groups continue to believe they are being discriminated against by the French government. Currently, it is difficult for a Sikh to acquire any identification-related document if he doesn't get himself photographed without removing his turban.
In his September 2008 summit talks in Paris, Singh had emphasized to Sarkozy that the turban was "a very essential part of the Sikh way of life". Sarkozy had then said that he had an "open mind" on the issue. Again in July 2009, after the French National Day celebrations, Singh had handed over a "non-official" document to Sarkozy on how to handle the problem. Sarkozy had then assured that there was no ban in France on Sikhs wearing turban.
However, there was more trouble early this year when France made it mandatory for its citizens to remain "bare-headed" in photographs meant for identity related documents. Minister of state for external affairs Preneet Kaur had then taken up the issue and conveyed to Paris that if Sikhs were photographed without turbans, it would create a faulty database because they wear turbans all the time. She had expressed hope that the matter would be resolved soon.
Sikh groups all over the world have urged Singh to again take up the issue. In fact, Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal wrote to the PM a few days ago asking him to take up "such discriminatory rules" which are being implemented in France.
Apart from holding talks with Singh, Sarkozy will have a meeting with President Pratibha Patil on Monday evening. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will also call on Sarkozy.
While Sarkozy has emphatically reiterated France's support for India's UNSC permanent membership bid, and also announced that Paris will back India's entry into NSG, no big defence deal is expected to be signed during the visit. The Mirage-2000 upgradation deal has got delayed and even the framework agreement for supply of two European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs) has not been finalised yet. Foreign ministry officials had said last week that the agreement for EPRs may or may not be signed during this visit.
Read more: PM may bring up ban on turbans with Sarkozy - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...Sarkozy/articleshow/7050051.cms#ixzz17HB6YdRM
Sarkozy had an informal meeting over dinner with Singh after landing in Delhi from Agra on Sunday evening. In the past too, Singh has taken up the issue with Sarkozy and while the president has displayed understanding of the situation, Sikh groups continue to believe they are being discriminated against by the French government. Currently, it is difficult for a Sikh to acquire any identification-related document if he doesn't get himself photographed without removing his turban.
In his September 2008 summit talks in Paris, Singh had emphasized to Sarkozy that the turban was "a very essential part of the Sikh way of life". Sarkozy had then said that he had an "open mind" on the issue. Again in July 2009, after the French National Day celebrations, Singh had handed over a "non-official" document to Sarkozy on how to handle the problem. Sarkozy had then assured that there was no ban in France on Sikhs wearing turban.
However, there was more trouble early this year when France made it mandatory for its citizens to remain "bare-headed" in photographs meant for identity related documents. Minister of state for external affairs Preneet Kaur had then taken up the issue and conveyed to Paris that if Sikhs were photographed without turbans, it would create a faulty database because they wear turbans all the time. She had expressed hope that the matter would be resolved soon.
Sikh groups all over the world have urged Singh to again take up the issue. In fact, Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal wrote to the PM a few days ago asking him to take up "such discriminatory rules" which are being implemented in France.
Apart from holding talks with Singh, Sarkozy will have a meeting with President Pratibha Patil on Monday evening. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will also call on Sarkozy.
While Sarkozy has emphatically reiterated France's support for India's UNSC permanent membership bid, and also announced that Paris will back India's entry into NSG, no big defence deal is expected to be signed during the visit. The Mirage-2000 upgradation deal has got delayed and even the framework agreement for supply of two European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs) has not been finalised yet. Foreign ministry officials had said last week that the agreement for EPRs may or may not be signed during this visit.
Read more: PM may bring up ban on turbans with Sarkozy - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...Sarkozy/articleshow/7050051.cms#ixzz17HB6YdRM