Harry Mann seems to have lost mental balance: Takht jathedar
AMRITSAR: Terming Congress leader Harry Mann’s controversial remark on the use of kirpan unfortunate, Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh on Thursday said: “It seems that he has lost his mental balance.”
Addressing a rally at Devigarh, Mann had asked party workers to use a sharp-edged weapon like kirpan against opponents and assured them that no action will be taken against them.
The jathedar said kirpan is a sacred symbol and is used for selfdefence and to fight atrocities. “Politicians make such statements to vitiate peaceful atmosphere,” he said, adding, “the Congress leader should apologise publicly for his remark.”
The jathedar sought introduction of the Anand Marriage Act. “The Act has already come into force in Pakistan, but in India, they are still deprived of this Act. Besides, the Constitution also does not recognise Sikhism as separate religion,” he said, lauding the SAD’s efforts to recognise Sikhism as independent religion.
Replying to the row over performance of kirtan by Punjabi pop singer Mika to whom the jathedar, along with other religious personalities, presented a siropa at an event in Mumbai, he said organisers of the event tendered an apology for violating the Sikh code of ethics, according to which the person, who cut his hair, cannot perform kirtan in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib.