Calling the policy as “unnecessary and unjust mandate’, nearly twenty-seven members of city council forwarded a letter to the president of the MTA New York.
According to the chairman of the city council transportation committee, John Liu, “This is headdress that is required of followers of the Sikh faith. It is totally and utterly unacceptable for the MTA to require that their corporate logo be sewn onto this religious wear.”
Liu added, “It serves no purpose towards enhancing service nor protecting the public, and effectively humiliates followers of the faith.”
According to the MTA, a logo intends to identify the person as its employee.
The Sikh Coalition and the city council members branded the policy as being selective and meant for targeting Muslim and Sikh community members.
According to executive director of the Sikh Coalition, Amardeep Singh, “To create special rules only enforceable against Sikhs and Muslims that don’t apply to anyone else is discrimination. It’s time for this policy to end.”
Singh brushed aside any need to wear a company’s logo on the turban saying, “You don’t need to brand your turban with a corporate logo to do your job.”
