Complaint against 'Bhajji', Akal Takht too waits for apology

CHANDIGARH: Cricketer Harbhajan Singh's 'Ravana act' in a TV reality show has earned the wrath of Hindu groups who have filed a complaint in a local court even as the Akal Takht, expressing dismay over the cricketer's delay in not seeking an apology, said it was not mulling immediate action against him.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Kanchan Mahi will hear the matter on Monday after Punjab VHP spokesman Vijay Singh Bhardwaj and others alleged in their complaint that Harbhajan, his co-participant TV actress Mona Singh and the channel that aired the show 'Ek Khiladi, Ek Hasina' had "intentionally and deliberately" hurt the religious feelings of Hindus.
Arvind Thakur, chairman of Akhil Bhartiya Rajput Council, and the Punjab Unit of Bajrang Dal are also party to the complaint.
The Akal Takht, the temporal seat of Sikhs which had sought an apology from him, expressed dismay over Harbhajan's delay in seeking an apology and his "wayward behaviour" by wearing a tilak and depicting himself and his co-star as mythological demon-king Ravana and Lord Ram's wife Sita.
But Jathedar Gyani Gurbachan Singh said no individual or organisation has approached the Takht against Harbhajan.
"If someone lodges a complaint with the Akal Takht, we will certainly verify the facts and if it (the complaint) is found to be legitimate then we will think what can be done," the Jathedar said.
He, however, made it clear that the Akal Takht has no plans to summon Harbhajan for his alleged act "since he is a non-baptised Sikh".
On the other hand, workers of Shiv Sena (Hindustan) gathered in front of Harbhajan's house in Daulat Puri locality of Jalandhar and raised slogans against him burnt his posters.