Latest news with #Kirpan
The Hindu
01-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Vice Admiral Manish Chadha takes charge as INA Commandant
Vice Admiral Manish Chadha took charge as Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, on Friday, succeeding Vice Admiral C.R. Praveen Nair. An alumnus of the 78th course of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, Vice Admiral Chadha was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1991. A specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare, he has completed the Staff Course at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Higher Command Course at the National Defence University, Washington, USA, says a press release from the INA. His sea commands include the Coast Guard Interceptor Boat CGS-05 and Indian Naval Ships Veer, Kirpan, and Mysore. At the staff level, he has held various operational and administrative positions at the Naval and Command Headquarters. Vice Admiral Chadha, who was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2025 and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2017, was promoted to flag rank in December. He subsequently served as Flag Officer Commanding Gujarat Naval Area, Assistant Chief of Personnel at Naval Headquarters, and Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area. Before taking charge at INA, he served as Assistant Chief of Personnel (Human Resource Development) at the Naval Headquarters.
Hindustan Times
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Rajasthan allows Sikh candidates to wear religious symbols in competitive exams
Jaipur: The Rajasthan government has allowed Sikh candidates to appear in competitive exams while wearing the five Sikh symbols of faith (kakars), including kara (steel bracelet), kirpan, and turban The incident sparked outrage among several Sikh organisations and candidates. (Representative photo) The state government issued this directive after a female candidate from Punjab was asked to remove her kara during an examination in Jaipur. The incident sparked outrage among several Sikh organisations and candidates. 'The religious sentiments and dignity of Sikh candidates must be fully respected at examination centres. Their religious beliefs should also be considered during security checks,' additional chief secretary of home department Bhaskar A. Sawant said. All the bodies that conduct examinations, including district collectors and police authorities, were asked to implement the order immediately. Sawant said in the order that Sikh candidates should not be prohibited from wearing religious articles such as kara, kirpan, and turban while appearing in various competitive examinations conducted by the Rajasthan public service commission, board of secondary education, staff selection board, and other departments/institutions. 'The religious beliefs of these Sikh candidates must be respected. Security agencies deployed at examination centres may be issued general instructions. If, during security checks, any of the symbols worn by Sikh candidates are found to be suspect devices, they should be examined through appropriate procedures,' he added. The Rajasthan state minorities commission had reported that during judicial and competitive examinations on June 26, Sikh candidates were prevented at several centres from entering with a kirpan — a violation of the candidates' fundamental rights. The candidate, Gurpreet Kaur, a resident of Pheloke village in Tarn Taran district, had to appear in the Rajasthan Judicial Services examination. Condemning the June 26 incident, Shiromani Akali Dal president Prakash Singh Badal had asked the chief minister to intervene and appealed to the Rajasthan High Court for a special opportunity to appear for the RJS examination. 'It is deeply disturbing to learn that a baptised Sikh girl, Gurpreet Kaur from TarnTaran Sahib district, was today denied entry to the Rajasthan Judicial Services examination at Poornima University, Jaipur, for wearing her sacred articles of faith — Kara and Kirpan,' Badal wrote on X.
Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Sikh religious symbols permitted during exams': Rajasthan govt after ‘anger' in community
Following 'anger in the Sikh community' after a baptised Sikh student was allegedly denied entry to the Rajasthan High Court Civil Judge recruitment exam while wearing a kirpan, the Rajasthan government has reiterated that Sikh students be allowed entry to competitive examinations while wearing their religious symbols. Citing a December 2019 circular issued by former Congress government under Ashok Gehlot, the Bhajan Lal Sharma government has said that 'the candidates of Sikh religion should be allowed to appear in the examination wearing religious symbols like Kada, Kirpan and Pagdi etc. in various competitive examinations conducted by Rajasthan Public Service Commission, Rajasthan Staff Selection Board and other departments such as Technical and Higher Education, Medical Education, School Education, Director General of Police, etc.' The government has said that general instructions can be issued to the candidates of Sikh religion to report to the examination centre an hour before the examination. But, 'if during screening, any Sikh candidate is found carrying any suspicious device within the mentioned religious symbols, then they should not be allowed to take it in the examination hall'. On Sunday, candidate Gurpreet Kaur, a native of Tarn Taran district in Punjab, had made a video outside the exam centre in Jaipur claiming that she was denied entry because she was wearing articles of Sikh faith. This had led to criticism from various quarters, including from Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, the Officiating Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. 'This is a serious violation of the Indian Constitution and religious discrimination against Sikhs,' Gargaj had said. He cited Article 25, Explanation I of the Constitution, which affirms the right of Sikhs to wear the kirpan as part of their religious practice. The Jathedar noted that a similar incident took place during last year's recruitment process in Jaipur and Jodhpur, and said written communication from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and other Sikh organisations had already been sent to the Rajasthan government. 'Despite that, the same injustice is being repeated,' he had said. The Rajasthan State Minority Commission had also sent a letter to the concerned officials after the latest incident, while citing some other similar incidents. The directive by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Bhaskar A Sawant states: 'Due to the non-effective compliance of the [2019] circular, such incidents have taken place and there is anger in the Sikh community'. The latest directive also cites the 2019 circular on the Freedom of Religion as enshrined in the Indian Constitution and a Delhi High Court order to allow carrying of religious symbols in examination halls. BJP's Sadulshahar MLA Gurveer Singh said: 'We acknowledge and thank Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma ji for addressing this vital issue with clarity and sensitivity. Now the onus is on Sikh students to uphold the sanctity and morality of the symbols'.
News18
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
DYK Shakira Unknowingly Helped Diljit Dosanjh Carry His Kirpan At Met Gala?
Diljit Dosanjh shared a funny story about how he snuck in his Kirpan at the Met Gala with the unexpected help of pop star Shakira, who didn't even know about his plan. Diljit Dosanjh made a grand debut at the Met Gala 2025 with his royal Maharaja inspired outfit. One key part of his look was the Kirpan, a traditional Sikh symbol, but the event organisers did not allow him to carry it at first as it was a weapon. Despite this, Diljit managed to sneak the Kirpan into the high profile red carpet. He shared a funny story about how he pulled it off with the unexpected help of pop star Shakira, who didn't even know about his plan. While talking to the BBC, the Chamkila star explained that Kirpan was an important part of his outfit and without it, the look will feel incomplete. Still, they didn't allow him to carry it. So, he asked if he could at least click a few pictures with it backstage. The team agreed to that. Diljit Dosanjh shared, 'So I was getting my photo clicked backstage when someone came and said, 'Hurry up, you're late.' So I just kept the kirpan with me and sat in the car. Then they said, 'You can't carry the kirpan on the red carpet. It's a weapon and it's not allowed.' I got out thinking, 'If someone asks me for it, I'll give it to them, but it'll hurt because it's a part of my look.' Ahead of me was Shakira. Her dress had a lot of metal, many pins and no one wanted to walk behind her because she's a huge star. Big stars get more attention and those behind them don't get much footage. So no one from my group wanted to go after her." 'I thought, 'It's okay. We've come this far, so let's go ahead.' As she walked through the metal detector, the machine started beeping. I had the kirpan in my hand. I thought, 'If I go with her, we'll either both get caught or neither of us will.' Because I was wearing a cape, the kirpan was hidden under it. The security checked Shakira but didn't even check me and said, 'Yeah, you can go.' They focused on checking her and I just stood there. Then I went in and the whole night I was proudly carrying the kirpan," Diljit explained. At the Met Gala 2025, Diljit Dosanjh was styled by designer Prabal Gurung, who created his outfit as a tribute to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. The look had a royal touch and stood out on the red carpet. This year's event was also special because Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kiara Advani also made their first ever appearance at the high profile event. Along with them, well known Indian names like Sabyasachi, Manish Malhotra, Isha Ambani and Priyanka Chopra also added glamour to the event. First Published: June 26, 2025, 15:00 IST
Mint
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Diljit Dosanjh reveals how Shakira helped him to sneak in kirpan at Met Gala: ‘If we get caught, we both will…'
Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh made a splash at Met Gala 2025. At his debut appearance, Diljit exuded regal vibes in his Maharaja-inspired look. Talking about it, he revealed how he managed to sneak in his kirpan at the event with some help from Shakira who had no clue about his plan. He also recalled the moment when he broke down when he envisioned his Met Gala outfit which represented his homeland. In an interview with BBC Asian Network, Diljit Dosanjh said he knew that all eyes would be on him at the event. 'I knew it jab main jaaunga toh koi aur nahi dikhega. Chahe voh mujhe kum dikhaayen lekin jab main jaaungi toh koi nhi dikhega (When I go there no one will have eyes on anyone else. Even if they show me less, but when I go no one else will be visible). I always had this belief that when I go, I'll look like a king. When I went to the Cartier showroom, I asked them, 'Will you give me that necklace? It belonged to us, and you just took it.' They had promised me then, but it was stuck in an exhibition, so it couldn't be sent. I cried when I thought of my look—that I would wear an outfit with the Punjab flag on my back and Gurmukhi script written on it. That was a very big thought for me. It wasn't important that I go there, it was important that Punjab goes there, that the turban goes there. That thought alone made me cry,' he said. Diljit also revealed how he somehow managed to carry a kirpan, the ceremonial dagger which is a part of his religious belief. It was Shakira who unknowingly helped with her huge outfit to match this year's theme. Diljit recalled how he was denied permission to carry the kirpan to the Met Gala. However, he said he sought permission to at least click photos with his kirpan backstage. He added that, in the rush of the moment, he unintentionally ended up carrying it in the car. As he arrived at the event, Diljit knew he might be asked to hand it over. He said he was prepared to do so, but only if someone requested it. The Good Newwz added, "Shakira was ahead of me, and her dress had a lot of metal pins and such. No one wanted to go behind her because she's a big star, but I thought it was okay because she was in my group. So when she was going through the metal detector, it had to beep because of all the metal on her dress, and I had the Kirpan in my hand, so I just walked through with her. I thought, 'If we get caught, we both will; if not, then not.' I had the Kirpan under my cape. They checked Shakira but didn't check me." At Met Gala 2025, Diljit Dosanjh paid tribute to his Punjabi roots, decked up in a royal look with modern flair. Styled by designer Prabal Gurung, Diljit wore an ivory sherwani paired with an opulent embroidered cape. His cape featured a map of Punjab and Gurmukhi script, symbolising cultural pride, while the sherwani was detailed with lotus motifs and peacocks on its ornate belt. He completed the opulent look with a turban, a ceremonial sword, and eye-catching accessories.
