Date:02/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/02/stories/2007060202301202.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Not an apology

This refers to the editorial "The sword and the olive branch" (May 31). The apology that the Dera chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, tendered was hardly an apology. He offended the Sikh community. When intense pressure was brought on him, he worded an apology addressed to Guru Gobind Singh.

An apology can be accepted only when the one tendering it appears in person before the Akal Takht. Even Maharaja Ranjit Singh appeared in person before the Akal Takht when he was summoned, and apologised for his mistake.

Mahindar Singh,
New Delhi

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India values the ideology of sarva dharma sambhav (all religions are equal). But no one has the right to hurt the religious sentiments of others. In Sikhism, casteism was eliminated when the Khalsa was created. It is unfortunate that this social evil has not yet been wiped out. There is an urgent need to educate all sections of society on the evils so that no leader can have a bad influence over the people.

Navdeep Singh,
Chandigarh