May 08, 2007 03:07 IST

Shiromani Akali Dal working president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday protested against the treatment meted to a Sikh in Canada, who was denied entry into a restaurant for wearing a turban.
In a communique to David Melone, High Commissioner of Canada in India, Badal said the incident was a clear case of denial of individual's right to practice one's own religion.
Expressing his anguish and concern over the incident, Badal said it was unbelievable that in a progressive and liberal country like Canada, a person could be denied entry into a restaurant on the basis of his religious identity.
"It is more surprising that the restaurant continued to escape legal and administrative actions all these years," Badal said.
Demanding an enquiry into the whole incident, Badal demanded exemplary punishment for the guilty.
Badal said he hoped that Canada would follow the policy of zero tolerance towards any disrespect shown to symbols of any religion including Sikh religion, and asked the Canadian authorities to take remedial measures to prevent such incidents in future. http://ia.rediff.com/news/2007/may/08badal.htm