New Delhi: Star spinner Harbhajan Singh has got his hair act together and put up a "turbanator" face in an advertisement for a whisky brand that had had him embroiled in a huge controversy.
Harbhajan has also apologised to the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee for leaving his hair uncovered in the ad. SGPC had criticised the cricketer for appearing with his hair open in the ad.
"I apologise if I have hurt Sikh sentiments. It was not my intention to do so. In future, I will take care of this," Harbhajan said.
He, however, said it was not right on SGPC's part to take up the issue in media. "It's bad that the SGPC took up the issue in media. If they had any problem, they should have called me like a son and told me. Their action was wrong," he said.
Objecting to Harbhajan's move, SGPC spokesman Avtar Singh had demanded an apology from the bowler for having flouted the norms of his religion that does not permit Sikh men to let their hair down.
"Harbhajan Singh should apologise for appearing in the advertisement if he considers himself a Sikh. Our religion prohibits keeping one's hair open," Singh said.
He said that since Harbhajan was born and brought up in a Sikh family, he should have known that his religion did not permit keeping free-flowing hair.
SGPC Secretary Harbeant Singh said the cricketer had committed a "great blunder" and it would be wrong to say that he had done so in ignorance.
"Harbhajan's action has hurt the sentiments of Sikhs across the world as he has participated in the advertisement for wine with open hair," Harbeant said.
Harbeant also said mere verbal apology was not enough and Harbhajan must tender a written apology for his "shameful" act besides returning the money which he received from the private company so that the ad could be withdrawn immediately.
Earlier, activists of Youth Akali Dal burnt his effigy in Amritsar after undertaking a protest march.
(With PTI and ANI inputs)
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