Indian PM Urged to Take Up Denmark Student Kirpan Controversy

May 18, 2005

Source: Sikhnet.com/Tribune India

http://www.sikhnet.com/Sikhnet/news.nsf/SikhNetHPNewsHTML/F0334C265CD2E0DE87257004006D36A5?OpenDocument

On May 18, 2005 Tribune India reported, "A socio-academic and cultural organisation here has urged the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take up the case of Ripudaman Singh, a Sikh student in Denmark, who has been declared guilty of carrying a six-inch kirpan by a local court there. Dr Charan Kamal Singh, chief secretary, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, in a letter to the Prime Minister and to the Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, Mr Tarlochan Singh, said such incidents against those from minority communities had become a regular feature in various countries. 'There is a need to take a holistic view of the matter and undertake an exercise wherein ambassadors of various countries, whose embassies are situated in India, can discuss such issues,' Dr Kamal Singh said. Ripudaman Singh, a Sikh student, pursuing higher studies in Denmark, has reportedly filed a petition seeking the permission of a city court of Copenhagen to file an appeal in the higher court against the judgement which had declared him guilty and fined him for carrying a six-inch kirpan in the second week of this month."