ASCF Will Testify for NYC Sikhs to Support a Pro-Turban Bill

New York, NY- Members of the American Sikh Consultative Forum (ASCF), which was formed recently to raise Sikh issues collectively with New York City Agencies, will turn up in full force at City Hall tomorrow (Thursday) to testify in support of the Uniform Anti Discrimination Bill, which will allow Sikh employees of City Agencies to wear their Turban.

The following members of the ASCF will testify at the hearing tomorrow: Mahinder Singh, Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Sikh Centre (Flushing Gurdwara), Mohinder Singh, Vice President of America Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC), Dr Ranjit Singh, Sikh Youth of America, Pritam Singh Bindra, of The Panthic Cause and Kuldip Singh, president of UNITED SIKHS,

“To a Sikh, his Turban is a part of his heritage. This bill will give New York Sikhs their rightful place in the community,” said Mahinder Singh.

Last month at a meeting with City Agencies the ASCF submitted a memorandum to City Agencies, which raised the issue of the Right To Turban. Click here for details of the meeting.

“The New York civil service ought to reflect New York society. Sikhs, as part of this society, should therefore feel welcome to join the civil service wearing their Turbans. Since a Sikh successfully fought the NYPD case and won his right to wear his Turban, Sikhs working with any city agency should have the same right enshrined by law,” said Tejinder Singh, legal advisor to UNITED SIKHS.

“We are in a race against time because the Bill has to become law before the end of the year or it lapses. There is not much time because there has to be a second hearing before a vote can be taken,” Attorney Tejinder Singh said.

The Bill (Intro 577), which was introduced by Council member David Weprin at the request of the Sikh Coalition, will allow all uniformed city agencies to exempt an employee from the uniform code if the code forces the employee to violate or forego ‘a practice of his or her creed or religion’. For details of the Bill, click here.

The Bill, which was introduced by Council Member David Weprin in Februray has the support of 24 Council Members to date and it requires the support of two more Council Members for the vote to be carried by a simple majority. The public hearing at City hall tomorrow will be attended by the 5 members of the Civil Service and Labour committee: Joseph Addabbo Jr (Chairman), Denis Gallagher, Sara Gonzalez, Allen Jennings Jr, and Larry Seabrook. All members of this committee, except Mr Addabbo and Mr Gallagher, have pledged their support for the Bill.

“The Bill needs the support of two more Council Members for it to be passed with a simple majority. We hope that Mr Addabbo and Mr Gallagher will support the Bill after hearing testimony from Sikhs at tomorrow’s hearing,” said Kuldip Singh, President UNITED SIKHS.

The 24 Council members supporting the Bill are: Weprin, Yassky, Gennaro, James, Comrie, Palma, Liu, Brewer, Perkins, Barron, Lopez, Clarke, Fidler, Gerson, Jennings, Katz, Quinn, Foster, Moskowitz, Gonzalez, Reed, Koppell, Seabrook and Jackson.

“After the Jaggi case, no City Agency should question a Sikh’s right to wear his Turban as the courts have upheld that do so would be a violation of a Sikh’s civil right.” Said Pritam Singh Bindra, Founder of The Panthic Cause, a member organization of ASCF, who successfully led the litigation in Jaggi vs New York Police Department, which upheld a Sikh’s right to wear the Turban as an NYPD employee.

Following are comments from other members of the American Sikh Consultative Forum

1. Bhupinder Singh Boparai, President of the Sikh Cultural Society Richmond, (also known as Richmond Hill Gurdwara) : The Turban is an essential part of the Sikhs, A Sikh turban makes America proud.
2. Sarabjit Singh, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle New York: Turban is an integral part of a Sikh. Sikhs have fought many wars wearing the Turban.
3. Paramjit Singh Bedi, President of Afghan Sikh Association New York : A Sikh without a Turban is like a fish without water
4. Dr Ranjit Singh, President of Sikh Youth of America: Sikhs have served many nations across the globe, wearing their Turbans. The Sikh Turban represents justice and dignity. This bill voices justice and dignity.
5. Mohinder Singh, Vice President of AGPC: The Turban is an integral part of the Sikhs. By letting this bill pass would help Sikhs be represented in the American System.
6. Manjit Singh, president of Baba Makhan Shah Lubana Gurdwara , Richmond Hill, New York : To a Sikh, His Turban is his esteem, do not take it away.
7. Jagir Singh Bains, Sikh Cultural Society Member, Activist who has been canvassing for years: The Turban is the heritage of Sikhs. A New York City Sikhs’ turban would make America proud. To a Sikh, a Turban is not less than a crown, that is why a Sikh is not supposed to wear any hat, cap, or any pre-fabricated head-gear in its place.
8. Varunjot Singh, NYC Sikh Student representative: Turban is the source of our strength. When a Sikh with a Turban looks in the mirror, he sees a proud history that stood by the principals of what the United States constitution represents. Please let it prevail. Let the upcoming generation of Sikhs be a part of it the American mainstream.

Issued by:
Meerat Kaur
Secretariat
American Sikh Consultative Forum
Tel: 1-888-243-1690

Supporting members of the American Sikh Consultative Forum (ASCF):

1. UNITED SIKHS (The ASCF Secretariat)
2. American Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (a representative body of Sikh Gurdwaras in the United States)
3. Afghan Sikh Association
4. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Society
5. Baba Makhan Shah Lubana Sikh Center Inc.
6. Dashmesh Sikh Center, Plainview, NY
7. Dhan Dhan Baba Buddha Sahebji Sikh Association
8. Flushing Gurdwara Saheb
9. Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle
10. Panthic Cause
11. Ravidas Temple
12. Sant Sagar
13. Sikh Association of Staten Island, Inc.
14. Sikh Cultural Society Richmond Hill (Gurdwara Sahib)
15. Sikh Heritage Foundation
16. Sikh Youth Of America
17. Sukhmani Society
18. The Sikh Coalition
19. The Sikh Forum Inc., Glencove