Khushwant Singh throws weight behind pro-helmet lobby

NEW DELHI, Nov 7: The anti-helmet lobby suffered a setback today when veteran journalist Khushwant Singh summarily dismissed the need for e...

NEW DELHI, Nov 7: The anti-helmet lobby suffered a setback today when veteran journalist Khushwant Singh summarily dismissed the need for exempting Sikh women from wearing protective headgear.

Challenging the protesting Sikh organisations to come forward with any Sikh scripture prohibiting women from wearing helmets, he said, “The High Court has taken a correct decision by making it mandatory for pillion riders of two-wheeler to wear helmets. It is purely a secular decision.”Challenging the protesting Sikh organisations to come forward with any Sikh scripture prohibiting women from wearing helmets, he said, “The High Court has taken a correct decision by making it mandatory for pillion riders of two-wheeler to wear helmets. It is purely a secular decision.”

“I challenge any Jathedar to come forward and show me any scripture saying that it is against our religion,” he added.

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On the other hand, the anti-helmet lobby took the issue on the roads today.Protesting members of various Sikh organisations burnt an effigy of Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma in front of his residence at Shyam Nath Marg.

Demanding that Sikh women be exempted from wearing helmets, a massive demonstration was held in front of the Chief Minister’s office at the Old Secretariat.

Participants included members of the Delhi Sikh Pratinidhi Sabha, the Indian National Forum, the International Sikh Sewak Jatha, the National Sikh Organisation of India and the Nari Raksha Manch.

The issue snowballed into a controversy earlier in the week when the Delhi Industry Minister Harcharan Singh Balli openly voiced his resentment against Sikh women being compelled to don helmets by court order.

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This was followed up by various Sikh organisations which came out strongly in support of the issue.

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