TORONTO: A Sikh man says he was asked to get off a bus for carrying a ceremonial dagger because of ignorance, not racism.
Last week, 28 year old Tarsem Singh was ordered off a Brampton Transit bus when the driver said the 9 inch kirpan he carried in his belt was a threat to the public.
“Its ignorance not racial discrimination,” Singh said.
“We have to teach people that it is a religious symbol not a weapon.
We only have good intentions,” he said.
Some drivers are unaware of the religious significance of the dagger but in Singh’s case, it was sizable and blatantly displayed,” said Glen Marshall director of Brampton Transit.
But Singh said in the 10 months he has been riding the bus he has always worn the same dagger displayed outside his clothing.
“If you hide it people might
think you have the wrong intentions,” he said.
Brampton Transit has no policy on ceremonial daggers and this is the first time a Sikh has been thrown off a bus for carrying one, said Marshall.
He apologized to Singh for the incident and said all Sikhs with daggers will be able to ride the bus at least until a policy decision is made by Brampton council.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 23, 1989
