Menu Card Offends Sikh

May 19, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Menu_card_offends_Sikh/articleshow/3051852.cms

Members of the Sikh community staged a dharna in front of a restaurant on Museum Road on Sunday, taking serious objection to jokes and pictures displayed on menu card which, they said, hurt their sentiments.

The protesters demanded a public apology from the hotel management and lodged a complaint with the Cubbon Park police station.

Over 50 Sikhs gathered in front of the restaurant, tore a copy of the menu card and set it on fire, shouting slogans against the hotel. They marched from the restaurant to the police station to file the complaint.

Gurudwara Committee president Gursharan Singh told TOI that some words and pictures depicted on the menu card humiliated members of the community. "A picture on the card shows the holy Kirpan (sword) and turban kept along with the footwear, which hurts our sentiments. The Kirpan and turbans are highly revered symbols of our religion. The menu card projects Sikhs in a bad light," Singh said. A fortnight ago, one of the members requested a change in the menu, but the restaurant management did not pay heed. As the authorities failed to respond to repeated requests, community members held a meeting at the Gurudwara and decided to stage a dharna, Singh said.