A global online petition started by Delhi Sikh community on www.change.org demanding a ban on 5,000-odd websites that carry Santa-Banta jokes ridiculing the community has gone viral and gained momentum worldwide.
Delhi-based Sikh lawyer Harvinder Chowdhury, who filed the PIL, had argued that such jokes are equivalent to racial abuse and constitute a violation of the fundamental right to life and to live with dignity.
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh G K said, “The petition has more than 27,000 signatures online and around 45,000 signatures offline. We expect to have about one lakh signatures by the end of December.” The campaign has also been launched for school children studying in 18 Guru Harikrishan Public Schools here. “Ignorant people bully Sikh children with ‘12 baj gaye’ and other taunts,’’
Singh said.