A Hastings Sikh priest asked to hand over his religious dagger by a pilot after he boarded a plane to Napier said the issue only served to highlight the racism his community faced in the post-September 11 world.
Jarnail Singh and a group of Sikh priests visiting from India got through security wearing their kirpans under their shirts at Auckland's domestic terminal without any problems and boarded their flight to Napier on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Singh said a woman sitting behind him spotted his kirpan sticking out and began shaking.
"She said I had a knife and got panicked," Mr Singh said.
"I asked her 'please calm down, we are not what you think'." The woman's husband notified cabin crew and the pilot asked the men to hand over their kirpans until they landed in Napier. They were given them back once all other passengers had got off the plane in Napier.
"If we are travelling international we put them in luggage but we have never had a problem before."
Mr Singh has been living in New Zealand for 19 years and working for five years as the vineyard manager at Park Estate Winery.
He has been travelling with the priests who are in New Zealand for nine months and visiting the temples for ceremonies which include prayer and song.
26/01/07 Kate Newton/Hawke's Bay Today, New Zealand
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
Friday, January 26, 2007
Home »
» Knife fuss racism says Sikh
Knife fuss racism says Sikh
Friday, January 26, 2007
Related Posts:
748.68 tons of essential cargo transported under Lifeline Udan New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday said 403 flights had been operated under Lifeline Udan in the domestic sector and 748.68 tons of… Read More
Why airlines in India are against keeping middle seats in flights vacant Airlines in India have come together on an issue, that seems to have otherwise divided the industry globally. It's about keeping middle seats in flig… Read More
Amrita Saha, The Cabin Crew Who Was Stigmatised By Her Society Reveals How Much Has Changed The pandemic has changed everything for everyone. The way we work, the way we sleep, and even the way we eat. It is believed that the life we are liv… Read More
Air India, Navy on standby to evacuate Indians from Gulf New Delhi: In a major move, the centre asked Air India and Indian Navy to be on standby with their aircraft and warships for mass evacuation of India… Read More
Restructuring Life After Job Loss in Aviation New Delhi: If there was one innovation that made the world so tiny that you could have your breakfast in New York, lunch in London and dinner a thous… Read More
0 comments:
Post a Comment