Hindu groups take Bhajji to court for Ravana dance

Amritsar/Chandigarh: Shiv Sena (Hindustan) activists held a protest march on Friday in front of the Harbhajan Singh's house in Daulat Puri locality of Amritsar to protest the off-spinner taking part in a TV dance show clad as Ravana.

About 40 workers of Shiv Sena (Hindustan) under the leadership of Narinder Thapar, District President of the party gathered in front of Harbhajan's house and started raising slogans against him and also burnt his posters.

The protestors demanded that Bhajji should submit unconditional apology to the Hindu community as he has hurt the religious sentiments of hindus by dancing as a Ravana.

Although protest continued for at least half an hour, but no member of the cricketer's family came out of the house.

A complaint in a local court of Amritsar, too, has been filed against Harbhajan.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Kanchan Mahi will hear the matter on Monday after Punjab Vishwa Hindu Parishad (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".

This is second incident in less than one year, when Harbhajan finds himself in religious controversy.

Earlier, Akal Takht objected his participation with untied hair in a liquor advertisement and the 'turbanator' had to submit apology for his act.