January 26, 2008	Saturday	Muharram 16, 1429

NEW DELHI: Indian Sikh organisations on Friday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take up the issue of a ban on wearing turbans in French state schools with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Sikh activists said they would take their fight to the European Court of Human Rights if France did not lift the ban.

The Sikh religion forbids men from cutting their hair, which is kept neat by wearing a turban.

“We have high hopes from Dr Singh since he is a Sikh himself,” Sikh religious leader Manjeet Singh told a news conference in New Delhi, where Sarkozy met premier Singh earlier on Friday.

“He (the prime minister) will be wearing his turban when he meets the French President. It is the best evidence of how important a turban is to a Sikh,” the activist said.

Sarkozy will be the chief guest at India’s 59th Republic Day celebrations on Saturday, after which he will visit the Taj Mahal.—AFP