APOLOGY UPDATE: Apology Crisis in the Punjab! Again!
Time to check in again with our wacky friends in the Punjab. No, not Hillary and Obama ... our pals in the Akal Takht!
(Which, for those who weren't paying attention, are the five clerics who make up the high council or governing body of the Sikh religion in the Punjab region. Or something like that.)
As you recall, Dera Sacha Sauda said sorry again for dressing up like a revered Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, after his first just-under-the-deadline apology by press release was rejected by the Akal Takht. Let's see how the new apology went down:
AMRITSAR: The Sikh high priests on Wednesday rejected the second "apology" submitted by dera Sacha Sauda and announced to hold a Sikh conclave in Ratia town in Haryana to press for arrest of the dera head Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh. ("Akal Takht rejects dera Sacha Sauda apology for second time," Punjabnewsline.com)
Ouch. It went down like a lead balloon. But why?
The Sikh clergy which held its meeting at Akal Takht in Amritsar for more than six hours expressed shock over arrogant behaviour of dera head and said that dera authorities have issued a "press note" instead giving proper apology. The Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti in a written statement said that dera head had not expressed any remorse for the sin he had committed and neither gave an assurance not to repeat the same in future.
Yeah, that fax it in thing is just not working. I don't know about you, but I get the impression Dera Sacha Sauda (aka Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh) isn't really that sorry. He's just trying to get by with the minimum:
The fresh "apology letter' issued by dera Sacha Sauda has been amended to seek an apology from Guru Gobind Singh and the Sikh community. The letter didn't carry the signatures of dera chief.
We discussed this before. But the Akal Takht is having none of that, rightly focusing on his lack of expressed remorse or assurances of not repeating his offense—two key elements of any sincere apology.
Now they want Dera Sacha Sauda aka Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh thrown in jail.
Apology Index readers in the United States are now saying: "Huh? The guy's a bit of a jerk, but where's the crime?" That's because we live in a country that enjoys freedom of speech and freedom of religion packed into one delicious First Amendment. Add some peanuts and caramel and you've got a great name for a candy bar there.
Here in America we can practice our own religion, practice no religion, make fun of other people's religions, dress up like whomever we want to, make obscene art involving religious figures, smoke, drink, cuss (well, maybe not smoke these days) and spit to our heart's content. Is it any wonder people rushing the door to get in? America throws the best party, bar none.
Well, there is Ibiza.
But in many other countries, you better watch your mouth. And, in the Punjab apparently, your wardrobe. They take their blasphemy seriously. It may not be a hanging offense in India ... but spontaneous human combustion is not out of the question.
As it happens, Dera Sacha Sauda already has an outstanding arrest order against him:
A Bathinda court on June 20 last had issued arrest warrants of Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh in a case registered against him for hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs. The arrest warrants are valid till July 1. As per the condition of the court, the Punjab police has sought state government's permission to arrest dera head. It is expected that state government would grant the permission and onus of arresting dera head would be shifted on Congress Government in Haryana.
He's definitely playing with fire here. As you can also infer from the excerpt above, he has become a bit of a hot potato. The Sikh hardliners are pressing for his arrest but no one in the local or regional government seems to want to be the one to give the order.
You know what that means! More Apology Crisis in the Punjab! fun to come! We'll let things simmer for a while and check in later.
(Which, for those who weren't paying attention, are the five clerics who make up the high council or governing body of the Sikh religion in the Punjab region. Or something like that.)
As you recall, Dera Sacha Sauda said sorry again for dressing up like a revered Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, after his first just-under-the-deadline apology by press release was rejected by the Akal Takht. Let's see how the new apology went down:
AMRITSAR: The Sikh high priests on Wednesday rejected the second "apology" submitted by dera Sacha Sauda and announced to hold a Sikh conclave in Ratia town in Haryana to press for arrest of the dera head Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh. ("Akal Takht rejects dera Sacha Sauda apology for second time," Punjabnewsline.com)
Ouch. It went down like a lead balloon. But why?
The Sikh clergy which held its meeting at Akal Takht in Amritsar for more than six hours expressed shock over arrogant behaviour of dera head and said that dera authorities have issued a "press note" instead giving proper apology. The Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti in a written statement said that dera head had not expressed any remorse for the sin he had committed and neither gave an assurance not to repeat the same in future.
Yeah, that fax it in thing is just not working. I don't know about you, but I get the impression Dera Sacha Sauda (aka Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh) isn't really that sorry. He's just trying to get by with the minimum:
The fresh "apology letter' issued by dera Sacha Sauda has been amended to seek an apology from Guru Gobind Singh and the Sikh community. The letter didn't carry the signatures of dera chief.
We discussed this before. But the Akal Takht is having none of that, rightly focusing on his lack of expressed remorse or assurances of not repeating his offense—two key elements of any sincere apology.
Now they want Dera Sacha Sauda aka Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh thrown in jail.
Apology Index readers in the United States are now saying: "Huh? The guy's a bit of a jerk, but where's the crime?" That's because we live in a country that enjoys freedom of speech and freedom of religion packed into one delicious First Amendment. Add some peanuts and caramel and you've got a great name for a candy bar there.
Here in America we can practice our own religion, practice no religion, make fun of other people's religions, dress up like whomever we want to, make obscene art involving religious figures, smoke, drink, cuss (well, maybe not smoke these days) and spit to our heart's content. Is it any wonder people rushing the door to get in? America throws the best party, bar none.
Well, there is Ibiza.
But in many other countries, you better watch your mouth. And, in the Punjab apparently, your wardrobe. They take their blasphemy seriously. It may not be a hanging offense in India ... but spontaneous human combustion is not out of the question.
As it happens, Dera Sacha Sauda already has an outstanding arrest order against him:
A Bathinda court on June 20 last had issued arrest warrants of Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh in a case registered against him for hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs. The arrest warrants are valid till July 1. As per the condition of the court, the Punjab police has sought state government's permission to arrest dera head. It is expected that state government would grant the permission and onus of arresting dera head would be shifted on Congress Government in Haryana.
He's definitely playing with fire here. As you can also infer from the excerpt above, he has become a bit of a hot potato. The Sikh hardliners are pressing for his arrest but no one in the local or regional government seems to want to be the one to give the order.
You know what that means! More Apology Crisis in the Punjab! fun to come! We'll let things simmer for a while and check in later.
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