Harbhajan in 'hair' controversy
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Star spinner Harbhajan Singh on Saturday found himself embroiled in a controversy after the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, the apex religious body of Sikhs, slammed the bowler for leaving his hair uncovered in an advertisement.
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Harbhajan was quick to apologise for the gaffe, resentment was evident when activists of Youth Akali Dal burnt his effigy in Amritsar after undertaking a protest march.
Harbhajan said he was sorry if he had hurt the sentiments of Sikhs.
"If my action has hurt the Sikh community, then I feel sorry for it. I will take note of it (in future)," he said.
Harbhajan said it was not right on SGPC's part to take up the issue in the media.
"It's bad that the SGPC took up the issue in media. If they had any problem, they should have called me like a son and told me. Their action was wrong," he said.
In Amritsar, led by SGPC's district president Gurpartap Singh Tikka, the protesters made their feelings known. SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar, who had sought an apology from Harbhajan on Friday, said the offie should have realised the importance of hair in the Sikh religion.