Student stopped from exam over ‘kirpan’, SGPC asks UP govt to act

Amritsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Sunday condemned an incident in Kanth town of Moradabad district, Uttar Pradesh, where an Amritdhari Sikh student, Jappan Singh, was stopped from appearing in his BA exam while wearing a ‘kirpan'.In a statement, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said after learning about the incident that occurred recently, the SGPC sent a team led by Brijpal Singh, in-charge of the Sikh Mission, Hapur, to the college concerned for an inquiry.Dhami called the incident "a very serious matter" connected with Sikh sentiments. He asked the Uttar Pradesh govt to order an inquiry and take action against the guilty principal and teachers.He said the kakaars were an essential part of Sikh identity, and Sikhs had a constitutional right to wear them in India.He added Sikh students across the country frequently faced harassment during exams, and this was unacceptable. He added the SGPC wrote multiple times to the central and state govts regarding this issue, but it was shocking such alleged discrimination continued. "SGPC will approach the Uttar Pradesh govt to ensure action against the responsible teachers," he said.