Chandigarh: Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Saturday issued a public apology to the Akal Takht for what he described as a violation of religious decorum during a government-organised event in Srinagar.
The event, held by the Punjab government’s Language Department, was part of the commemoration of the martyrdom centenary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. Bains said the incident occurred due to “knowingly unintentional negligence” on the part of the organisers.
Talking to social media, Bains wrote that as a Sikh cabinet minister, he is a “seeker of forgiveness” for the episode and added that he has been summoned by the Akal Takht in this connection.
The apology follows criticism from Sikh bodies, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which condemned the conduct of the event, alleging it was disrespectful to the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib.
