Villepin sugar-coats turban ban, says we are sensitive to all

Speaking to reporters after meeting External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, he said: ‘‘We are going to seek the best way to resolve this issue and to show the respect we have for the (Sikh) community but taking into account the constraints of our situation in France.’’

‘‘The law is not at all aimed at any kind of religion. We fully respect religions, cultures and traditions,’’ he said, reaffirming France’s commitment to secular values.

Faced with angry protests by the Sikh community, the French government is in the process of examining the proposed law on banning the show of religious symbols which includes turbans for Sikhs.

New Delhi has also ‘‘sensitised’’ the French government on the concerns of the Sikh community against this law. The issue came up during the official talks today.

Explaining the rationale behind such a law, Villepin said, ‘‘In our system, religion is not going to interfere,’’ adding that ‘‘neutrality, tolerance, a spirit of friendship,human rights and democracy’’ mark France’s political history and tradition. ‘‘Due to the situation today, we thought it will be useful to have a law in order to make sure that this spirit of tolerance is going to be fully respected.’’ Villepin also met a delegation of Sikhs led by Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister S S Dhindsa and National Commission for Minorities chairman Tarlochan Singh. He assured them that their religious sentiments would be fully respected by the French government.

‘‘The Sikh community is respected in France and we know the sacrifices they made during World War I, fighting alongside France. However, we are exploring a way out, keeping into account the specifics of the Sikh religion,’’ Villepin said.

‘‘I am convinced we are going to find a way which will be satisfactory for the Sikh community in France,’’ he told the delegation.