Times of India, 20 Oct 2008
Sorry for Ravana act: Harbhajan to VHP
CHANDIGARH: Days after dressing up as Ravana for a TV reality show, cricketer Harbhajan Singh on Saturday tendered an apology saying it was playin
g heavy on his mind and affected his performance on the field.
"I feel sorry for having hurt the religious sentiments of any community and assure that I will try my best to steer clear of it (controversy) in the future," Harbhajan said at a news conference in a city hotel hours after the end of third day of the second Test between India and Australia in Mohali.
The cricketer made the announcement in the presence of VHP's Punjab unit spokesperson Vijay Singh Bhardwaj and human rights activist and lawyer Arvind Thakur.
Calling truce, Bhardwaj said, "The court case against Harbhajan Singh will be withdrawn soon." The ice was broken when the cricketer told the two men, who reached the hotel to warn him they would not let him reach the playground on Monday, that he wouldn't want the issue to go on.
Earlier, turning the threat into an opportunity, Harbhajan asked his contacts to get in touch with those who had lodged complaints against him and did not take long in working out a compromise.
VHP leaders said the cases against the producer of the dance show and his partner Mona Singh would not be withdrawn if they do not tender an apology like Harbhajan.
|
