Turbans are an issue: Singh tells Sarkozy

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said French President Nicolas Sarkozy had told him that he had an "open mind" on the issue of Sikhs wearing turbans in France and would have a relook at it. Dr Singh said he had told Sarkozy that the turban was a very essential part of the Sikh way of life.France had imposed a ban in 2004 under which Sikh students were prohibited from wearing turbans to schools, a decision that had incurred world-wide protests from the Sikh community.