Lucknow: The controversy surrounding the denial of entry to a Sikh NEET aspirant for wearing religious symbols—Kada and Kirpan—at the Shri Jay Narayan PG College exam centre in Charbagh, Lucknow, is gaining momentum. The incident, which took place during the NEET examination held on Sunday, has been condemned as an attack on religious freedom by the Lucknow Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (LGPC).
The affected Sikh candidate, accompanied by his father S. Satveer Singh, met LGPC President S. Rajendra Singh Bagga at the Naka Hindola Gurudwara office on Monday. During the meeting, the student narrated the ordeal he faced while attempting to enter the exam centre with his Kada and Kirpan—articles of faith mandatory for baptized Sikhs.
According to the student, he pleaded repeatedly with the exam centre administration and security personnel to be allowed inside with his religious symbols. He stated that he went back and forth between the entrance and the office of the centre administrators four to five times over a span of nearly one hour and twenty minutes, requesting permission to appear for the exam without violating his faith. However, his appeals were ignored, and instead, he was told to leave the centre premises.
Mentally distressed and dejected, the student said he eventually had to remove his Kirpan and Kada and hand them over to his mother waiting nearby, at around 1:25 PM, near a local ATM. Only after doing so was he finally allowed to enter the centre and take the exam. He added that while the local police provided assistance and acted sensitively, the exam officials remained unmoved.
Reacting strongly to the incident, LGPC President S. Rajendra Singh Bagga said, “Denying a Sikh candidate entry over his religious symbols is a blatant violation of religious freedom and an affront to the Sikh community’s sentiments. The examination centre officials’ actions were not only insensitive but condemnable.” He added that the LGPC is taking the matter seriously and will soon take strict action against those responsible.
Later, the student and his father also met LGPC General Secretary and Acting President S. Harpal Singh Jaggi, who also condemned the incident, calling it unfortunate and disgraceful. He informed them that he had already spoken to the exam centre administrator over the phone, apprising him of the seriousness of the situation and the community’s growing anger.
Jaggi added that the issue is escalating and needs to be addressed with urgency. He confirmed that a five-member LGPC delegation, led by President S. Rajendra Singh Bagga, would be meeting the exam centre authorities today to discuss the next course of action in response to what he termed a deeply sensitive and significant matter of religious freedom and dignity.
