'Saber' banned in Australian schools, Akal Takht expressed displeasure, said- Government withdraw the decision

Ban on Kripan has been banned in government schools in New South Wales, Australia's largest state. Expressing displeasure over this, Akal Takht has asked the Australian Government to withdraw this decision. The Shiromani Gurdwara Manager Committee (SGPC) has written a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs and the High Commissioner of India present in Australia regarding the ban on the kirpan.

This letter calls for immediate intervention on this issue, as it is a matter related to the religious sentiments of the Sikhs. The ban on not wearing saber in schools is going into effect from today. Actually, this ban has been imposed after an incident in a school in Sydney. A 14-year-old Sikh student was being bullied and abused by some students at school. In response, he used his saber for rescue and injured a student.

Government's decision completely immature

Akal Takht has called this ban unnecessary. It has strongly criticized the Australian government for not taking any community consultation before implementing the ban. Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh of Akal Takht said that the decision of Australian Education Minister Sarah Mitchell is completely immature. He said that Sikh organizations should unite to fight for the identification of Sikh symbols. The government should review its decision which offends Sikh sentiments.

Purity of Sikh community should not be staked by an incident: SGPC chairperson

SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur said that the sanctity of the community cannot be placed at stake on the basis of an incident. The saber is sacred to the Sikh community. It can never be compared to a knife or dagger. He said that the Education Minister did not hold any discussion with the leaders of the Sikh community except to hold an online meeting with the two Sikh members. Soon after, a ban was imposed on Saber. He urged the Australian Government to withdraw this decision as soon as possible.