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SGPC seeks apology from Bhajji over advertisement
Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee demanded an apology from Harbhajan Singh for wearing his hair open in an advertisement.
Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, considered to be mini-parliament of the Sikhs, on Friday demanded an apology from off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for wearing his hair open in an advertisement.
"Harbhajan Singh should apologise for appearing in the advertisement if he considers himself to be a Sikh. Our religion prohibits keeping one's hair open. We also strongly object to his appearing in the advertisement in this fashion," SGPC President Avtar Singh told PTI over phone.
He said that since Harbhajan was born and brought up in a Sikh family, he should have known that his religion did not permit keeping free-flowing hair.
"We are not even supposed to eat if our hair is not tied," he said.
SGPC chief said Harbhajan should have refrained himself from appearing in the advertisement of the company, which is associated with a well-known liquor brand.
Avtar Singh said they would also seek apology from the company which had given the advertisement, which also figures other popular cricket stars Yuvraj Singh and Mahender Singh Dhoni along with the spinner.
The SGPC head said Harbhajan should learn something from English spinner Monty Panesar.
"Panesar is also a Sikh, but brought and bred up abroad. If he can promote Sikhism while playing for England and staying in that country, then Harbhajan too should learn something from him. On earlier occasions too the SGPC had urged Harbhajan not to do any such action for easy money which harms the image of Sikhs," he said.
