New Delhi: India today (Feb 12, 2004) said it has "sensitised" the French Government on the concerns of the Sikh community against a proposed legislation banning turbans in schools in that country.

"Government has already sensitised the French Government in Delhi as well as in Paris on the concerns of the community on this issue," External Affairs Ministry spokesman told reporters when asked about the French Government's decision to pass a law to ban all religious symbols in their public schools, which also puts a stop on Sikh students in France from wearing their traditional turbans to schools.

He said the Sikh community in France has also taken up the matter with the French Government which had expressed "some understanding for these concerns at a high level".

The issue may crop up during talks tomorrow between External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and his visiting French counterpart Dominique de Villepin.

Various Sikh organisations have launched a signature campaign to protest against the move.