The Hindu : National : Harbhajan apologises

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Sunday, Oct 08, 2006
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Harbhajan apologises

Chandigarh: Spinner Harbhajan Singh on Saturday found himself embroiled in a controversy after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, apex religious body of Sikhs, slammed the bowler for leaving his hair uncovered in an advertisement.

Although Mr. Singh was quick to apologise for the gaffe, activists of the Youth Akali Dal burnt his effigy in Amritsar after a protest march.

"If my action has hurt the Sikh community, then I feel sorry for it. I will take note of it [in future]," Mr. Singh told PTI.

However, "it's bad that the SGPC took up the issue in the media. If they had any problem, they should have called me like a son and told me. Their action was wrong," he said.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, who sought an apology on Friday, said Mr. Harbhajan Singh should have realised the importance of hair in Sikh religion.

Secretary Harbeant Singh said the cricketer had committed a "great blunder'' and it would be wrong to say he had done so out of ignorance. "Harbhajan's action has hurt the sentiments of Sikhs across the world as he has participated in the advertisement for wine with open hair." — PTI

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