Harish Rawat sorry for ‘Panj Pyare’ remark

Chandigarh, September 1

A day after comparing the working presidents of the PCC with ‘Panj Pyare’, Congress Punjab affairs in charge Harish Rawat has apologised.

Rawat said he had no intention to hurt sentiments of the Sikhs and it was wrong on his part to compare the working presidents with ‘Panj Pyare’. Rawat said he held the ‘Panj Pyare’ in high esteem and had worked for the betterment of the places related to Sikhism in Uttarakhand.

He said during his tenure as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, he was instrumental in providing a road link between Nanakmatta Sahib and Ritha Sahib gurdwaras, besides providing a smooth and safe journey for those visiting Hemkunt Sahib.

In the Sikh tradition, ‘Panj Pyare’ is the term used for five beloved of the Guru. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the last of the 10 Gurus, initiated five men into the order of ‘Khalsa’ (pure).

‘Panj Pyare’ is the name given to five baptised Sikhs who perform a baptism ceremony to initiate Sikhs into the order of the Khalsa. On his Facebook page on Wednesday, Rawat acknowledged his “mistake” for his remark.

“Sometimes by expressing respect, you use such words which are objectionable. I too have made a mistake of using the words ‘Panj Pyare’ for my honourable president and four working presidents,” wrote Rawat. “I have committed a mistake. I apologise for hurting the sentiments of people,” he said, adding he would clean a gurdwara in his state with a broom as atonement.

The SAD had taken exception to Rawat’s remarks and had sought an apology for the same. SAD’s Daljit Singh Cheema had slammed Rawat and had demanded he should be booked him for hurting sentiments. — TNS