New Delhi: France today (Feb 13, 2004) said the proposed law to prohibit all religious symbols in public schools was not aimed at the Sikh or any other community and it will find the "best way" to resolve the controversy over banning turbans for Sikh students in that country.

"We are going to seek the best way to resolve this issue and to show the respect we have for the (Sikh) community, but taking into account the constraints of our situation in France," visiting French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told reporters after extensive talks on a wide range of issues with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha.

"The law is not at all aimed at any kind of religion. We fully respect religions, cultures and traditions," he said.

The French Government has been faced with angry protests by the sizeable Sikh community in that country over this move. They contended that turban is an integral part of the Sikh way of life and not just a religious symbol.

New Delhi has also "sensitised" the French Government on the concerns of the Sikh community against this law. The issue came up during the parleys.

Villepin said the law was to make sure that "in our system, religion is not going to interfere". He said neutrality, tolerance, a spirit of friendship, Human Rights and Democracy marking the country's political history and tradition have led the French Government into framing this law.