Remarks on Gatka
Sajid Khan tenders apology
GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 10
After the intervention of the SGPC, Sajid Khan, one of the judges of TV reality show “India’s Got Talent”, has tendered an apology for his remarks on the performance of Sikh martial art- Gatka - by seven-year-old boy Manpreet.
Manpreet’s inclusion in the next round of the show is still not clear. However, members of the Tarn Taran-based Bir Khalsa Gatka Dal said the team would not participate in the show without Manpreet.
“Though the judge and the organisers of the show have tendered an apology on TV, they have not yet clarified their stand on Manpreet’s inclusion in the team for the next round,” said Kanwaljeet Singh, the leader of the team.
“It is for sure that the team will proceed along with Manpreet only. Even if the organisers do not send Manpreet’s tickets, we will take him along and will protest on the stage by not performing,” he added.
While the group was selected for the next level of the show aired on July 31, Sajid Khan termed the act as “too violent for his age”.
He had remarked that Manpreet be excluded in the next round, as his carrying a sword would have a bad impact on children.
Irked, the SGPC along with the Gatka Federation of India and the Punjab Gatka Association had demanded an apology from the channel concerned and the ouster of Sajid Khan from the show.
Akal Takht had recently honoured Manpreet for his tremendous talent of displaying Sikh martial art form by offering him a saropa. SGPC president Avtar Singh had said that the show had hurt sentiments of Sikhs by terming it as an act of violence. Akal Takht chief Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh maintained that if he had felt guilty of passing such remarks, it would be acceptable to the community.
Meanwhile, Manpreet has expressed his keen desire to be part of the team in the show
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥
