New Delhi: The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) Monday passed order allowing Sikh travellers to carry 'kirpan' of a specific length and blade on flights and airports. The permission has been granted by BCAS on Indian aircrafts operating from domestic terminals, reported news agency ANI.
The order also applies to Sikh employees working at airports.
"Kirpan may be carried by a Sikh pax, on his person, provided length of blade doesn't exceed 15.24 cms & total length of Kirpan doesn't exceed 22.86 cms. Allowed while traveling on Indian aircraft within India operating from Domestic Terminals only," read the statement released by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
The announcement comes after a Sikh employee wearing a 'kirpan' was stopped from performing duty at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar on Thursday last week.
The ban had stirred a row, and upset the Sikh community that termed it as an infringement of their rights. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami in a letter had urged the Union minister of civil aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia to look into the incident and immediately withdraw the rule.
“In their own country, this discrimination is a major attack on the religious freedom of the Sikhs, which will never be allowed to be implemented. The Centre should never forget that the Sikhs have remained at the forefront in making sacrifices for the freedom of this country and if the culture of the country survives today, it is because of the Sikhs,” Dhami was quoted by Hindustan Times website.
The BCAS on March 4 had issued a fresh guideline in which Sikh employees wearing 'kirpan' were debarred from performing duty at the airports of the country. Travellers too were not allowed to board flights if they were wearing a 'kirpan'.