A meeting of more than 50 representatives from various organisations was held via zoom to discuss the proposed changes to Kirpan wearing in Schools by NSW Government.
The policy would require that kirpans be “blunt” and secured by a soldered chain that restricts the removal of the kirpan, amongst other restrictions.
Members of prominent Sikh organisations including Akhand Kirtani Jatha Australia, Damdami Taksal Australia, Turbans 4 Australia, Khalsa Camp Australia, Khalsa Education Society, Dal Baba Bidhi Chand, Kalgidhar Gurmat Vidhyala, Shepparton Sikh Associaltion, Damdami Taksal Ranjit Akhara, Ranjit Akhara Sydney, Khalsa Foundation Australia, Nirmal Sampardya, Council of Australian Sikh Affairs, Sikh Samaritans Australia, Shiromani Akali Dal Mann and many local sangat members participated in the discussion.
While there had been a legal exemption for Sikh students and school staff in NSW to wear the kirpan until recently, following a recent incident, a blanket ban had been imposed.
The proposed policy was posted online on June 18 and is open for public comment until June 25th. The policy imposes unacceptable modifications to the kirpan that change the very nature of this sacred Sikh article of faith.
The community have also raised concerns about the inconsistency and wide gaps in the consultation. Hence the NSW Gurdwara Working committee doesn’t not represent the full depth and sentiments of the wider community.
The proposed policy is more restrictive than any kirpan policy we are aware of and requires that the kirpan be fundamentally altered.
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The Australian Sikhs have rejected any proposed changes by the NSW Government to the Kirpan wearing in Schools.
SinghStation urges you to write to the NSW Dept of Education by tomorrow, 25th June, with your views and counter-proposals on the wearing of the Kirpan in schools.