Sikh forums to boycott Hazare's fast

Several Sikh organisations have now decided to boycott Team Anna's fast scheduled for June June 3 at Savarkar Smarak. They have also strongly criticised the UPA government's failure in curbing inflation and spiralling petrol prices in the city.

President of Sikh Young Circle, Amarjeet Parhar, said his organisation would be protesting against Team Anna for its remark. "If Anna is an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi and is following the same strategies, then he should have taken care about the remarks his team is passing against the PM," Parhar said.

We object: Members of Sikh Young Circle are all set to protest against Team Anna for a remark made against the PM. Pic/Krunal Gosavi

He said that the organisation would circulate pamphlets across the 28 gurdwaras in the city, appealing to other community members to stay way from Anna's fast.

Founder president of United Sikh Youth Forum (USYF), Sunmeet Singh Chowdhary, told MiD DAY that he has appealed to all USYF members to stay away from morchas or hunger strikes called by Anna on June 3.

"I have also told them not to share any messages regarding Anna's andolan even via social networking sites," Singh said.

He added that the community would not tolerate such demeaning statements against the PM.

"How can anyone make such an irresponsible statement against the PM? He is holding an honourable post," said Kuljit Singh Choudhary trustee of Gurunanak Gurudwara, city's biggest gurdwara.

Anna's close aid, Suresh Pathare, told MiD DAY that Anna would be looking into the matter once he reaches Delhi on June 2.

"The remark passed by one of the team members was certainly not in good spirit and we are speculating that Anna is likely to seek an apology for the same," Pathare said.u00a0

What started it
The controversy was kicked off after a member of Team Anna member referred to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as Shikhandi, which is a character in the epic Mahabharata, who acted as a shield to the Pandavas to kill Bhishma. The member said that ‘Congress party has put him (PM Singh) in front as Shikhandi'.