Thailand hotel apologises to Kol Sikh after kirpan ordeal

KOLKATA: The Bangkok hotel that denied check-in to a Kolkata-based entrepreneur and community leader, Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, due to his kirpan—a sacred article of faith for practising Sikhs—on April 12, apologised to him.
The hotel, in an email to Ahluwalia on April 18, wrote, "Please accept our apologies for the distressing experience you encountered at Shangri-La Bangkok on 12 April, 2025. We deeply regret any action that led to your feeling of being unwelcome and discriminated against."

The hotel also informed him, "We acknowledge that our staff's way of handling of the situation lacked cultural sensitivity. The kirpan you carry should have been treated with the highest respect."
The hotel stated, "To reinforce our commitment to guest security and respect, we will undertake the following actions: Implement comprehensive training programmes to enhance cultural literacy among our staff. Enhance our security measures to ensure a safer and more inclusive environment for all guests."
TOI reported on April 21 that Ahluwalia, a member of the West Bengal Minorities Commission and general secretary of Gurdwara Behala in Kolkata, faced humiliation and despite repeated efforts to explain the religious significance of the kirpan, hotel staff allegedly refused to accommodate him unless he agreed to deposit his kirpan with security upon every entry and exit.