New York: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Sep 25, 2004) indicated that the turban controversy in France has been addressed with school students being allowed to wear a particular type of headgear in place of the turban.

Asked about the restrictions placed by French schools on wearing of turban, Singh said when National Security Adviser J N Dixit had recently visited France, he had been instructed to take up the issue at the highest level with French authorities.

Singh said he has reports that an agreement has been reached for a particular type of headgear.

Sikhs in France, numbering over 5,000, had vehemently protested at the new move, which French authorities claimed was not discriminatory.