Sikh Council Jalandhar up in arms against Navjot Sidhu - demands police case against bjp leader for distorting verses from gurbani

Tuesday, 25/11/2014

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Jalandhar :Leaving no chance to corner senior BJP leader and three-time former MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, the members of Sikh Council, Jalandhar owing allegiance to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), on Monday sought the registration of an FIR against Sidhu for hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs.

The Sikh Council, Jalandhar members led by SAD Jalandhar (Urban) media in-charge Charanjiv Lally said that Sidhu should be booked for distorting a ‘shabad’ of Guru Arjan Dev during a public meeting in Ludhiana recently. “We would also approach Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to take note of such a serious lapse,” he said. Sidhu was quoted as distorting the ‘shabad’ of Guru Arjan Dev ‘Ja tu mere val hai…’ by mentioning it under the name of Arjuna from the Mahabharata during his public address in Ludhiana. The Sikh Council members also burnt the effigy of Sidhu and lambasted him for showing disrespect to Gurbani.

Addressing a press conference, Lally said that a delegation of Sikh Council would meet the Commissioner of Police Yurinder Singh Hayer on Tuesday for registering an FIR under Section 295 (A) of IPC. “This should not be treated as a ‘political case’ rather it was an issue of hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikh community. Sidhu is also a Sikh and he should be booked for distorting the ‘shabad.’ Strict action should be taken against BJP leader Sidhu,” he said.

The Sikh Council members also pointed out ‘Hindu prayers and rituals’ performed by Navjot Sidhu at his residence. “This might be his personal choice and we were not against it but the disregard shown to the ‘shabad’ of Guru Arjan Dev would not be tolerated,” he added. As if this was not enough, the senior BJP leader was least remorseful of his act of distorting the shabad, the members alleged. “Neither Sidhu was remorseful of his act nor did he prefer to tender an apology to the Sikhs through the media,” they maintained.

They also maintained that earlier also Navjot Sidhu had performed ‘Havan Yajna’ bare-headed according to Hindu customs. To a query that Sikh Council members did not come to the forefront when Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia had distorted a ‘shabad’ of Guru Gobind Singh, they said, “It was Revenue Minister Majithia, who came forward to seek pardon from Akal Takth. The Sikh Council stood for the respect of the Sikhs”, they added.

It is pertinent to mention here that recently SAD spokesperson and Education Minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema had spoken to BJP Punjab president Kamal Sharma over the open outbursts of former Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu against the ruling SAD-BJP government in the state.

Despite repeated attempts, Sidhu could not be reached for comments.