Ex-Punjab writes to Canadian MPs to reject Bill 21, safeguard Sikh Turban rights
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, December 2: A retired senior Indian bureaucrat has written to Sikh, Punjabi-origin and Indian-origin Members of Parliament in Canada, urging them to take a firm public stand against Quebec’s controversial Bill 21, which restricts public servants from wearing religious symbols, including the Sikh turban.
Karan Bir Singh Sidhu, a former Special Chief Secretary of Punjab and a practising turbaned Sikh, expressed concern over the Canadian federal government’s “cautious and ambiguous” position as the Supreme Court of Canada prepares to hear the constitutional challenge to Bill 21 in March 2026.
In his detailed letter, Sidhu highlighted the discriminatory impact of the legislation on visible religious minorities and appealed to MPs to publicly affirm that no Canadian should be forced to remove their articles of faith to serve as teachers, police officers, prosecutors or judges.
Sidhu, who served 37 years in the Indian Administrative Service, also recently authored an op-ed titled “Quebec, It’s the Turban That Fought for You – And Now You Want It Off?” In the article, he recalls the contributions of Sikh soldiers in the World Wars and criticises Quebec for masking majoritarianism under the guise of secularism, while urging Ottawa to move beyond procedural arguments about the “notwithstanding clause.”
He called on MPs to consider coordinated cross-party action, including joint statements or an informal caucus, to signal unity on the dignity of the dastar (turban) and the right to manifest one’s faith in public service roles.
Sidhu further requested MPs to engage closely with Sikh organisations involved in the legal challenge and to support efforts to strengthen interventions before the Supreme Court of Canada through constitutional experts.
“A nation that honoured the turban in combat should not ban it in the classroom,” Sidhu wrote, stressing that with a record number of Punjabi-origin MPs in Canada’s Parliament, the moment is critical for safeguarding the rights of future generations of Sikh Canadians.
He concluded by offering to participate in further discussions with lawmakers and community groups on the issue.