Amitabh Bachchan writes letter to Akal Takht
Thursday, Dec 1, 2011: After being barred by Akal Takht 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 riots.
69-year-old Bachchan was asked by the Akal Takht 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.
Takht 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, the Akal Takht 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.