A gesture for this week’s Vaisakhi celebrations by the Mayor of London’s cultural team has been called “hypocrisy”, based on a historic ban against Amritdhari (initiated) Sikhs from using the London Eye.

The London Eye, which attracts over 3.5million visitors a year, has had a ban against Amritdharis from using the tourist attraction since it was opened in 1999, due to their wearing of the kirpan, a small sword that is mandatorily worn as part of the Punj Kakkar (Five Ks) uniform of initiated Sikhs.