Punjab minister inserts Arun Jaitley`s name in `Gurbani`, triggers a row

Zee Media Bureau

Amritsar: Punjab Minister for Revenue and Public Relations Bikramjit Singh Majithia has triggered a row by `allegedly` distorting the "Gurbani" while canvassing for BJP`s Amritsar candidate Arun Jaitley. Majithia has already submitted an apology to the Akal Takht. The Punjab minister`s comments have evoked sharp reaction from Congress and Sikh activists, while Jaitley has stepped aside from the issue. Hitting out at Majithia, Congress candidate from Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency Ravneet Singh Bittu said Shiromani Akali Dal calls itself a religious party, but its top leader, Majithia, distorts Gurbaani. However, Delhi SAD president Manjit Singh GK said that Majithia has already apologised for distorting the Gurbaani and the matter is now with Akal Takht. Jaitley, meanwhile, refrained from making any comment, saying it is an issue between Majithia and his religious authorities. One of the five seats of temporal authority in Sikhism, Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, in Maharashtra, has, meanwhile, held Majithia guilty of religious misconduct. The Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Maharashtra`s Nanded District declared Majithia `Tankhaiya` (guilty of religious misconduct) for showing disrespect to the sacred compositions of the Sikh Gurus. Majithia was reported to have changed a word in the concluding part of Guru Gobind Singh`s hymn to tailor it to suit his wish for Jaitley`s victory. The hymn is considered by Sikhs as their religious song. In video clips that have gone viral on the Internet, Majithia is seen telling the audience at an election rally to chant a refrain from the hymn: “Deh Shiva bar mohe ihai, Shubh karman the kabhu na taro, Na daroo ar siyoo jab jah laroon, Nischai kar apni jeet koroo.” (O Lord, give me this boon, May I never ever shirk from doing good deeds, That I shall not fear when I go into combat. And with determination I will be victorious), inserting Jaitley’s name in the final phrase instead of ‘apni’. Sikh activists have protested against Majithia, burning his effigy and taking out a march from Gurdwara Nimmawala to Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi against the alleged blasphemy.