Toronto: A Canadian Sikh cabinet minister traveling to the U.S. went through regular security checks as a common man. But despite going through additional security, he was asked to remove his turban prior to boarding at Detroit Airport in Michigan, U.S.

Minister Navdeep Bains recalled the episode, which took place in April 2017, in an interview published in the online newspaper La Presse.

"I went through all the security checks without revealing my identity as a minister," he said. "I did it knowingly, as is my habit, to understand better what ordinary people are going through when they sometimes have trouble getting along with people in a position of authority."

Bains said he initially went through a metal detector without any problem but was then asked to go through an additional security procedure because of his turban.

An agent asked him to go through another screening but the machine was not working properly, Bains said. When it emitted a warning sound, a security officer asked Bains to remove his turban. "I asked him why I had to take off my turban since the metal detector had worked well," Bains told the newspaper. "I will never be asked to take my clothes off. It's the same thing. It's a piece of linen."

After passing a second test Bains was allowed to continue.

But when he reached the boarding gate, less than 20 minutes before departure, a security guard approached him and said he had to go back to security because protocol had not been followed. He again asked Bains to remove the turban.

At that point, Bains who is Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development did something he doesn't always do -- he pulled out his diplomatic passport.

"As a Sikh, wearing the turban is considered one of the most dutiful acts for a person of the faith and I am proud to represent my community. Unfortunately, these types of incidents do occur from time to time to minorities in particular. But it should never become the norm," Bains said in a statement to CNN.

"I will continue to promote diversity and inclusion across the country as our government has done since we took office."

Bain says he complained to Canada's foreign minister who then complained to U.S. officials. The treatment meted out to Bains caused Canada to complain to U.S. government officials. He says U.S. officials expressed regret and apologised and he's accepted the apology. (With Agency inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 11, 2018 02:48 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).