Floor mats with Golden Temple image spark row

Earlier, there was outrage by Sikhs after toilet seat covers and other merchandise with an image of the Golden Temple were sold on e-commerce giant Amazon’s website.

 

Akali Dal leader and Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said he has made a written complaint at the North Avenue police station in the national capital, stating that Flipkart has hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs by selling mats with the picture of Sri Harmandir Sahib. He said the action of the company has created unrest among Sikhs worldwide. 

 

“It appears that the company without caring for sentiments of Sikhs and without even taking advise of Sikh bodies went on to use these pictures on floor mats on which people wipe their shoes,” Sirsa said.

Sirsa added he has received thousands of calls from the Sikh community on this issue. He charged that online commercial companies are repeating such mistakes. Sikhs will ensure that a case under section 295-A of IPC is registered against those who are repeating such acts to hurt the sentiments of the community. “We will also ensure that trial of the case is done at the earliest and the guilty put behind bars,” he said.

 

The leader said he will also write to the Centre and seek guidelines for such companies against using religious elements, pictures, video etc to sell their products so those religious sentiments of any community are not hurt.

 

After a similar Amazon controversy, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had lashed out at Amazon seeking an apology and immediate withdrawal of the product. Sikh organisations worldwide had asked Amazon to permanently prohibit the objectionable portrayal. The products were removed from the list after the outrage.