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Model-turned-actress and TV anchor Mandira Bedi has once again earned the ire of the Sikh community for sporting an Ek Onkar (God is one) tattoo on her nape, with community leaders threatening to drag her to court for hurting religious sentiments if she did not have the tattoo removed immediately.
On Wednesday, Mandira Bedi, who attended a dealers meet of Jaypee Cement at Zirakpur on the outskirts of Chandigarh along with Sachin Tendulkar, flaunted the tattoo with the symbol in Gurmukhi on her bare nape, leading to protests.
This was the second time she is facing the wrath of the Sikhs, after she was warned by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) in 2007 for walking the ramp with the same tattoo on.
Bedi said on Wednesday that she respected the religious sentiments of the Sikhs and that she had planned to undergo a plastic surgery to have it removed but could not find time.
Baldev Singh Sirsa, special secretary, Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) said he would move court against her, seeking action under Section 295 A of IPC that entails action for deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. Meanwhile, jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh has given her a two-month ultimatum to remove the tattoo.
After the clergy's stern warning, if Mandira Bedi continued to sport the tattoo, she could even invite strong punishment including summoning at the Akal Takht and a public rebuke. In cases of strong defiance and blasphemy, the Akal Takht can award "tankha" or punishment that may even go to the extent of excomminication from the community.
Balwant Singh, professor of Sikh Studies at the Guru Nanak Dev University said: "Mandira's act has brought disgrace to the holy Gurbani. Ek Onkar is to be respected and not flaunted like this."
