Sikhs employed in aviation sector allowed to carry small 'kirpan' in airport
Darpan News Desk IANS, 14 Mar, 2022 11:55 AM
New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) The Centre has allowed Sikhs working in the aviation sector to continue carrying small sized 'kirpan' within the airport premises.
In Sikh religion, 'kirpan' or a dagger is considered a holy object.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) amended its order issued on March 4 by deleting the para restricting the entry of Sikh employees inside the airport carrying 'kirpan' of specified size. The new order issued on March 12 restored the position prior to March 4.
As per the order, the length of the kirpan's blade should not be more than six inches, and its total length should not exceed nine inches.
In its earlier circular, Sikh travellers on domestic flights were allowed to carry the specified length 'kirpan' on their body.
This is a significant development after the new Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made it crystal clear within minutes of taking charge that "law of the land is supreme" and no one can afford to disrespect it.
Denying reports of his resignation, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's media advisor Raveen Thukral said on Thursday that the former would lead the Congress to victory in the Assembly elections scheduled early next year.
India is still witnessing the second wave which is not yet over as northeastern states and some parts of south India are still battling it, a member of the government's Covid expert panel said on Thursday.
The passage of the bill through both the houses of the parliament will be fulfilment of the demand of 12 lakh Indians who marched across 22 states and 12,000km demanding a strong law against trafficking along with Kailash Satyarthi in 2017.
Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh has announced waiver of Rs 590 crore worth of loans under the farm debt waiver scheme for labourers and the landless farming community, an official statement said on Wednesday.
