COURTESY HT DEC 30

Sidhu should apologise for hurting Sikh sentiments, says Akal Takht
HT Correspondent

letterschd@hindustantimes.com

Amritsar : The acting jathedar of the Akal Takht, the supreme seat of Sikhs, Giani Hapreet Singh, on Tuesday asked former Punjab minister and Amritsar East MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu to apologise from the Sikh sangat for hurting their religious sentiments.

Sidhu had faced flak on the social media after a video emerged in which he is seen wearing a shawl that has a Khanda and Ik Onkar (religious symbols). Sidhu had posted the video clip on his YouTube channel ‘Jittega Punjab’ and was purportedly shot, while he was campaigning against the three farm laws in a village. He had also posted these pictures on his Facebook page . Several people had commented on the pictures expressing their “disappointment”, and asking him to “not wear such shawls”, which are against the Sikh tenants.

“By wearing a shawl containing the symbols of Khanda and Ik Onkar, Navjo Singh Sidhu has done a reprehensible job. As a Sikh, he should have known that this is against the Sikh Maryada. With this, sentiments of all Sikhs have been hurt,” the jathedar said in a press release.

While condemning the act, the jathder said, “He should immediately apologise from the Sikh sangat for his mistake.” The press release adds that the Akal Takht has received several complaints against Sidhu’s act.

On Tuesday, a five-membered committee of Sikh Youth Power Of Punjab (SYPP), a Sikh organisation, led-by its president Paramjit Singh Akali had submitted a memorandum to the Akal Takht seeking “strict action” against Sidhu. The organization also requested the jathedar to issue an order to avoid such incidents in the future. The SYPP members also submitted a memorandum to the Amritsar DCP, seeking action against Sidhu.