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Mumbai: Fans of singer Diljit Dosanjh were allowed entry at his concert in Western Sydney for wearing their religious daggers known as kirpans. The authorities asked them to leave their kirpans at the gate. However, they refused and were told they couldn't attend the concert. ABC News reported that such people were offered refunds.
The incident took place in Western Sydney’s Parramatta Stadium, which was also Diljit's first show in his Australian tour. The fans, who belonged to the Sikh and Punjabi community, were stopped at the gate after their kirpans were detected by the metal detectors.
Paramvir Singh Bimwal (50) and his wife Sona said that they paid $200 to attend the concert. The man claimed that he fought through his health limitations to come to the show. But at the gate, the duo was told they would not be able to attend the show with their kirpans.
“It’s really disappointing to be here, and we were told right at the entrance to move aside,” said Paramvir. He added that they suggested he remove it and keep it in a box, which they would take after the show. However, the couple refused as they viewed it as "disrespectful" and "hurtful". He also claimed that they were not refunded for the tickets.
The NSW police stated, "Officers spoke with the male patron who declined to cloak the Kirpan. He was then directed from the stadium and left without incident.”
Meanwhile, it is illegal to carry a knife except for a few exceptions, such as “genuine religious purposes”.
Another duo was also stopped at the gate. A man identified as Manmohan Singh said, "In our Sikh culture, we cannot remove it from the body. It’s not fair. Diljit is also from the Sikh community."
As the topic became a discussion on Reddit, many weighed in. Many people criticised those who complained. They stated that it was important to follow the rules and regulations of a country.
Diljit has become the first Indian artist to headline shows in stadiums in Sydney, Melbourne and other locations like Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
