Mall in Patna removes wax statue of 10th Sikh guru

PATNA: A prominent shopping mall located in the state capital has removed the wax statue of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru of Sikhs, after it generated wide controversy and triggered protests from the Sikh community.
The development followed after former union minister for food processing and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and the local Patna Sahib Prabandhak Committee raised strong objections over the move. Describing it as an "outrageous violation of Sikh norms," Badal also asked the state government to take strict action against the guilty and urged the Sikh community to unite to fight the conspiracies against the Khalsa Panth.
"The great Guru Sahiban and Shri Guru Granth Sahib emphasized on the formless nature of Akal Purakh, the supreme power. That is why Sik maryada forbids idol worship. Therefore, the installation of a statue of Dasmesh Pita Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in Ambuja Mall, an Adani-owned company in Patna, is an outrageous violation of Sikh norms," the Bathinda MP tweeted.
Asking the persons responsible for it to tender an apology, she also appealed to the community members to unite to fight against what she described a "conspiracy". "I urge all Sikhs to unite to fight the conspiracies against the Khalsa Panth to dilute our religious vision and identity," she tweeted further.
As the news made waves, a delegation of Patna Sahib Prabandhak Committee headed by vice-president Guruvinder Singh also rushed to the mall and expressed strong objection over playing with the sentiments of Sikh community. Subsequently, the mall authorities tendered an apology and removed the statue, Singh said in a video message.
Reports said scores of visitors had been visiting the mall located in the heart of the city and taking selfies with the tenth Sikh Guru before posting them on social media which caused strong resentment among them.