The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Sikhs seek apology for menu card

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Sikhs seek apology for menu card

Staff Reporter

‘Religious symbols were printed in a derogatory manner’
‘Hotel management apprised of it three months ago’

BANGALORE: Members of the Sikh community in Bangalore have sought an apology from a restaurant which hurt their sentiments by allegedly printing their religious symbols on its menu card. They have threatened to take the matter to court.

After staging a protest in front of the restaurant on Museum Road on Sunday, the community members, under the aegis of the Karnataka Sikh Welfare Society, are now thinking of legal recourse if the restaurant owners did not tender an apology and pay compensation. “This restaurant’s menu card had derogatory comments or jokes on our religion which are highly objectionable.

“Sikhs, a minority in Karnataka, are a peace-loving people involved in social activities for the poor and the needy. They are being degraded by these silly and unscrupulous jokes which have hurt the sentiments of all Sikhs in Karnataka,” society general secretary Gurmeet Singh told The Hindu.

“Where was the need to have displayed our religious symbols, including kalgi, turban and kirpan (sword), along with a shoe? What are the owners trying to show by hurting our sentiments?”

Mr. Singh continued: “We want an apology from the owners at the gurudwara and compensation in terms of a donation to the society, which is involved in social activities.”

The restaurant introduced the menu card with derogatory jokes some three months ago and that one of the society members had written to the owners requesting it to be withdrawn, he added.

But, he said, the restaurant management had not withdrawn it.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police Cubbon Park sub-division Jitendranath said that a case pertaining to the matter had been registered and investigation was under process.

The restaurant management was not available for comments.

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