Senators in California voted in favour of a bill that exempts Sikhs from wearing a safety helmet when riding a motorcycle.

The Senate Bill 847, authored by Senator Brian Dahle cleared the state senate this week with a 21-8 vote margin, and will now move to the Assembly.

“Freedom of religion is a core foundation of this country. We, as Americans, have the right to freely express our religion and I believe that right should equally extend to everyone. Any law that limits the ability to express one’s religion, goes against what this country is all about,” Dahle said in a statement after presenting the bill on the senate floor.

“Exempting those who wear turbans or patkas from wearing helmets is a simple way to ensure that everyone’s religious freedoms are protected,” he added.

According to 2021 American Community Survey estimates, 211,000 Sikhs live in California, which is nearly half of all Sikhs living in the US.

The State Senate was told that as of now, no helmet exists in the market that will accommodate a turban or a patka, but according to members of the Sikh community, a turban is a good enough protection.

Currently, 18 states and Washington D.C. have a universal helmet law for all riders. 29 states require helmets for specified riders, generally riders under a certain age (usually 18 or 21).

Only Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire have no motorcycle helmet laws.

“Although other countries and our own military make accommodations for Sikhs’ deep beliefs, out of the US states that require helmets, none has exemptions for Sikhs or any other group based on religious practice,” a statement from Dahle’s office read.

This question of helmets for Sikhs has also been debated and considered in other countries, like Canada and the UK.

In Canada, Sikhs are exempt from motorcycle helmet laws in several provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario.

Among the supporters of the bill were the Legendary Sikh Riders, the Sikh Legends of America and the Sikh Saints Motorcycle Club.

According to the Center for Disease Control, more than 5,500 motorcyclists died in 2020, and more than 180,000 were treated in emergency departments for crash injuries.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who is on a 10-day visit to the United States of America was heckled during an event in San Francisco on Tuesday (local time US). A group of Khalistani supporters suddenly started raising slogans against him interrupting his speech. Slogans against the Gandhi family were raised in connection with the 1984 Sikh massacre that took place in India.

Soon after the incident took place, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun shared a video on social media showing the visuals of the event when the Khalistani supporters protested against the Congress leader.

Pannun threatened Gandhi and even PM Modi

In an audio clip attached to the video, Pannun threatened Gandhi saying that wherever he would travel and address the masses all over US, he will be facing such resistance from the Sikhs in the US. In another shocking warning, Pannun threatened PM Modi that even he’d face the same conditions during his state visit. “Next will be Modi on June 22,” said Pannun in the audio clip.

Pannun threatened Gandhi and even PM Modi

In an audio clip attached to the video, Pannun referred to Gandhi as trader of ‘Sikh genocide.’ He further threatened Gandhi saying that wherever he would travel and address the masses all over US, he will be facing such resistance from the Sikhs in the US. In another shocking warning, Pannun threatened PM Modi that even he’d face the same conditions during his state visit. “Next will be Modi on June 22,” said Pannun in the audio clip.

Gandhi reached San Francisco earlier on Tuesday

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached San Francisco on Tuesday for a three-city US tour during which he will interact with the Indian expatriates and meet American lawmakers.

He was received at the airport by Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda and other members of the IOC. Rahul Gandhi had to wait for two hours at the airport for immigration clearance, party sources said.

PM Modi’s state visit to the USA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also set to embark on an official state visit to the United States on June 22. The Ministry of External Affairs announced that PM Modi will be hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a state dinner at the White House. This visit highlights the diplomatic ties between India and the US.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev asked the We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition, the country’s second largest force in Parliament, to form a government.

Radev handed the exploratory mandate to Nikolai Denkov, the PP-DB’s nominee for Prime Minister, reports Xinhua news agency.

“In the coming days, we will be negotiating with the other parliamentary forces in order to be able to form a regular government,” said Denkov, whose coalition holds 64 seats in the 240-member Parliament.

“I hope this sincere effort of ours will be supported,” Denkov said.

Denkov has seven days to propose a government, which will then need the backing of parliament in a simple majority vote.

Radev first entrusted on May 15 the task of forming a new government to the GERB-UDF coalition, the country’s largest political force, which holds 69 seats, but it failed to secure a parliamentary majority.

Should the PP-DB also fail to form a government, the president shall entrust the task to one of the four minor parliamentary groups.

If no agreements can be reached, the President will call new parliamentary elections.