A Sikh student in the US wasnot allowed to board a busbecause he was wearing a knifecalled kirpan, a symbol of hisfaith, media reported.
NEW YORK – A Sikh studentin the US was not allowed toboard a bus because he waswearing a knife called kirpan, asymbol of his faith, mediareported.Harsimran Singh, a student ofUniversity of California inDavis, said he was not allowedto board an Amtrak busSaturday because the driver wasagainst Singh wearing the ceremonialknife.The student said he has travelledfor the last two years with theknife in full view and had nothad any issues till the incidenton Saturday, CBS News reportedWednesday.”They don’t say anything. Theyalways wish me safe travel, andthey continue on with their business…they didn’t see me as apotential threat,” Singh said.According to the report, busdriver Al Smithee got concernedat the presence of a weapon onthe bus.”I’m doing 70 miles an hourdown the freeway, and he slitsmy throat, and I crash andwreck, and kill five other peopleor oncoming traffic. You don’tknow,” he was quoted as saying.Smithee then called the policewho then told Singh that hecould board the bus if hestowed the kirpan.But Singh did not agree anddecided against the trip he hadplanned to visit his family.
