Rawat courts controversy with 'Panj Pyare' remark, later apologises

Harish Rawat, who courted controversy by equating Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and four Congress working presidents to the 'Panj Pyare', apologised for hurting the sentiments of the people.

Hyderabad: AICC general secretary and Congress' Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat, who courted controversy by referring to the party's Punjab leadership as 'Panj Pyare', apologised for hurting the sentiments of the people. "Sometimes by expressing respect, you use such words which are objectionable. I too have made a mistake of using the word 'Panj Pyare' for my honourable president and four working presidents. I apologise for hurting the sentiments of people," Rawat wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday. He said he was a student of the country's history and the leading position of 'Panj Pyare' could not be compared with any other.

Rawat landed in soup after he equated Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and four Congress working presidents to the 'Panj Pyaras'. While addressing the media after a meeting with Sidhu at Chandigarh on Tuesday, Rawat said "It was my responsibility to discuss with the PCC chief, his team and 'Panj Pyare'. Sidhu has told me that the discussions over polls, organizational structure will be geared up... Rest assured, PCC is working."

Read: Amid fresh rumblings in Punjab Cong, Rawat meets Sidhu

Earlier in the day, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Daljeet Singh Cheema objected to Rawat's remarks and demanded an apology from him. "It is very sad and disappointing that Harish Rawat has said that the meeting was chaired with 'Panj Pyare'. The 'Panj Pyaras' are respected and honoured in the Sikh Community. I would request Harish Rawat that is not at all a matter of joke, such remarks hurt the sentiments of the Sikh Community," Cheema tweeted sharing a video. He further accused the Congress of being anti-Sikh and hurting Sikh sentiments. "The Congress has always been anti-Sikh and hurting Sikh sentiments. Statements made by Harish Rawat should be withdrawn immediately, and the entire Congress should apologize to the entire Sikh community," Cheema said.

Lashing out at Rawat over his remark, SAD leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa had urged the Punjab government to register a case against the AICC general secretary.

For the uninformed, in the Sikh tradition, Panj Pyare is the collective name given to five Sikh men by Guru Gobind Singh during the historic and monumental divan at Anandpur Sahib in 1699.