This Article is From Mar 23, 2011

Turban row: Statement of the Ministry of External Affairs

New Delhi: Expressing its "great unhappiness" over Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh's coach Amritinder Singh being asked to take off his turban at the Milan airport, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) today asked the Italian envoy to ask authorities back home to show more sensitivity.

The MEA had summoned the envoy, Giacomo Sanfelice Di Monteforte, earlier in the day to register its protest over the incident.

Here is the full statement of the MEA:

Secretary (West) Shri Vivek Katju, summoned the Italian Ambassador Giacomo Sanfelice Di Monteforte to the Ministry today evening, over the incident involving Shri Amritinder Singh at the Milan airport yesterday.

He conveyed our great unhappiness at this very serious incident. He asked the Ambassador to transmit our strong feelings to the Italian authorities, at the highest level, so that there is an appreciation of the significance of the turban for the Sikh community and the Indian nation. He asked that necessary sensitivity be shown in such cases. He also drew the Ambassador's attention to External Affairs Minister's remarks on the subject, in Parliament today.

The Italian Ambassador expressed his deep regret and said that the Italian authorities at the highest level had been seized of the matter. A probe was being conducted into the incident. He added that security guidelines have to be implemented keeping religious sentiments in mind.

New Delhi
March 23, 2011
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