Amitabh Bachchan writes
letter to Sri Akal Takht Sahib
After
being barred by Sri Akal Takht Sahib from participating in a religious
function, Bollywood mega star Amitabh Bachchan has written a letter to the
highest Sikh body, mentioning that he had not said anything against the
community during the 1984 Genocide.69-year-old Bachchan was asked by the
Akal Takht Sahib not to attend the Virasat-e-Khalsa ceremony on November 25
at Anandpur Sahib over his alleged utterances during the riots in Delhi
despite receiving an official invite from the Punjab government.Bachchan, in
his letter, said he never uttered any wrong words against the community
during the riots and was not involved in any anti-Sikh activity.The actor
said that his mother Teji Bachchan was from a Sikh family and so he and his
family were fully aware of the Sikh tenets and customs.Confirming the
receipt of the letter, Akal Takht Jathedar Gyani Gurbachan Singh said that
it will be discussed during next meet of five Sikh head priests and the next
course of action will be decided later.
Sri Akal Takht Sahib had issued directions to
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC President Avtar Singh
Makkar that Bachchan shouldn't be the part of the inaugural function.
Following complaints from various Sikh
organisations and intellectuals over the participation, Sri Akal Takht Sahib
put the restriction on Bachchan.
Earlier, radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa
had also taken a tough stand against the Punjab government for inviting
filmstars for the inauguration of the complex.
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has
pleaded his innocence in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in various parts of the
country in which thousands of Sikhs were massacred, a top Sikh religious
leader said. The letter was delivered to the Akal Takht head by Shiromani
Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member from Mumbai, Gurinder Singh Bawa.
Talking to reporters here on Thursday, the Akal Takht jathedar said that he
had received the letter from Amitabh, who said that he had not instigated
anyone to indulge in riots against Sikhs. Nearly 7,000 Sikhs were killed in
the 1984 in Sikh Genocide in various parts of the country following the
assassination of the then prime minister India Gandhi by her two Sikh
bodyguards in New Delhi Oct 31, 1984. Amitabh was considered very close to the
Gandhi family and particularly to Indira Gandhi's son, Rajiv Gandhi.