Mitali Palnitkar
Published On: December 27, 2021 at 16:55 IST
Peshawar High Court, Pakistan has directed the Sikhs living in Pakistan to possess a renewable license for wearing ‘Kirpan’ in the Court as well as the Government departments. This move has brought disappointment to the Sikh Community across the world and is also facing criticism.
This stance of Kirpan being sword has been condemned by the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), India. It has also made an appeal to the Pakistan government to resolve the issue as soon as possible. The SGPC President, Harjinder Singh Dhami requested the Indian Government to resolve the issue by contacting the Pakistan government.
Dhami highlighted the significance of ‘Kirpan’ for the Sikhs by stating, “For Amritdhari (initiated) Sikhs, the Kirpan is one of the five important Kakars, wearing which was must as per the Sikh Rehat Maryada (Code of Religious Conduct).” He further added that Kirpan was a symbol of faith for Sikhs and was not to be termed as a knife or dagger.
He expressed his disappointment by stating, “The decision of the Peshawar High Court has caused great resentment in the minds of Sikhs. The Sikhs have settled all over the world and now the governments of different countries have also allowed them to wear a Kirpan. Pakistan had been a part of India before 1947, so the people living there are well aware of the Sikh history and traditions.”
A Petition was filed in the Peshawar High Court by the representative of Sikhs, Baba Ji Gurpal Singh to allow Sikhs to wear Kirpan in Courts and Government offices. The Court responded to the Petition by declaring the Kirpan as a weapon and the permission was given to the Sikhs but under the ‘Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Arms Police – 2012’, which means that the Sikhs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will need to have a license.
RP Singh, the National Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party stated, “The Court said that this knife-sword cannot be kept without a license, it is not a sword, but a Kirpan that we have got because of Guru Ji’s grace.” He also wrote a letter to the High Commissioner of Pakistan conveying the concern of the Sikh community.
In India, the Sikhs have the right to wear a Kirpan at all times. This right is given to the Sikhs by Article 25(2)(b) of Constitution of India.