Chandigarh: Facing backlash from Sikh community and opposition leaders in the country, Senior Congress leader and unit in-charge of Punjab, Harish Rawat, on Wednesday tendered an apology for stating Congress chief Navjot Sidhu and four working presidents under him as ‘Panj Payare’, inducted into the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh.
He issued this statement on Tuesday after holding a meeting with Sidhu and other working presidents and he was opprobrium for it and on Wednesday, he posted the statement social media in Hindi, which
roughly translates as sometimes you express respect and use such words which are offensive. I too have made a mistake of using the word ‘Panj Pyare’ yesterday for Punjab president and four working presidents. I am a student of the history of the country and the leadership position of the Panj Pyaras cannot be compared with any one. I have made this mistake, I apologize for hurting people’s sentiments. As an atonement, I will clean a gurudwara in my state with a broom. I have always had a sense of dedication and respect for Sikhism and its great traditions. When I became the Chief Minister, I had constructed linking roads to Gurdwara Shri Nanakmatta Sahib and Gurdwara Shri Reetha Saheb, where Guru Nanak Dev Ji had visited both the places besides providing safe journey to pilgrims visiting Hemkunt Sahib.