drkhalsa
SPNer
- Sep 16, 2004
- 1,308
- 54
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]France Allows Political Turbans
- Gurujot Singh Khalsa
Sept. 12th, 2005
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited France en route to New York for the UN General Assembly meet. He met French President Jacques Chirac as well as the French Prime Minister to discuss a major defense deal.
A $3 billion deal for India to buy 6 French scorpene submarines is expected to be formally announced. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan’s colleagues in France must not have informed him about the much debated turban ban. After France’s ban on religious clothing one would question the consistency of the ban as they allow Manmohan’s trademark sky blue turban into their Federal buildings to discuss purchasing submarines.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inspects the guard of honor on his arrival at Orly airport in Paris on Sunday. On his right is French Defense Minister Alliot Marie. — PTI photo
While Manmohan is being saluted in Paris airport, 3 Sikh boys in the same city have been expelled from their school for simply wearing turbans to school. Perhaps these boys should pool their resources together to buy a submarine from the French government. Business might be the key to attain the favor of this administration. Manmohan is not likely to bring up the subject of the turban ban during his visit to France. The issue was raised when the French made a visit to India earlier. French president Chirac plans to visit the budding super power India in February next year. His decisions on the turban issue will surely come into play then.
Politics seems to have a stronger influence then the needs of citizens. These politics are not just in France, they seem to have traveled to India as well… perhaps via submarine. Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran earlier described the infamous French ban as “transparent”. He later said that the “French have accommodated us to the extent possible.” Meanwhile National Commission of Minorities Chairman Tarlochan Singh told the Tribune India that he has received a letter from the French government that Paris has made no concessions to the new law vis-à-vis the Sikh community in France. Appeasing to the French govt. is not likely to gain favor with the Sikh communities.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050910/nation.htm#5
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200509121801.htm?headline=India~to~buy~six~Scorpene~submarines~from~France
http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Manmohan+to+meet+Chirac&id=78650&category=National
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1490073,0005.htm
