Kirpan is one of the five religious symbols that Sikhs wear after baptism.

The bill defines a 'kirpan' as a blade that resembles a sword and is required to be carried as an integral part of the practice of the Sikh faith.

'After the 9/11 incident, things had become really difficult for Sikhs carrying kirpans with them. Many times it has also led to their illegitimate arrests by the US police. But now we certainly expect things to improve,' Jasjit Singh, who owns a transport company in Alabama in the US, told IANS over phone.