Hundreds of school children wearing turbans would hold demonstration to protest against the order of the French government banning the use of conspicuous religious symbols including the Sikh headdress in Sikh schools.
The demonstration to be held on Monday would begin from Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and proceed to Chanakyapuri where a group of children would hand over the memorandum to the French ambassador conveying their anguish over the order.
French President Jacques Chirac arrives in New Delhi on a state visit on Sunday and would hold deliberations with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and later address a joint press conference on Monday at the Hyderabad house.
Senior ministry of external affairs official refused to comment on whether the issue of ban on turbans would figure during the talks.
Tarlochan Singh, chairman National Minority Commission, said that there has been no change in the situation. "The act is very much there and there has been no relief for the school going Sikh students," he said.
Jathedar Manjit Singh, of Shiromani Akali Dal Panthak (Santokh Singh group), said that the demonstration will not be just a challenge to France's contemporary legal system but also to the current way of Western thinking.
"Several Sikh boys have been expelled from schools for breaking the French law banning pupils from weaning religious headgear in schools," he added.
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