Femina apologises for controversial Sikh article

Popular magazine Femina will publish an apology in its next issue for an article that Sikh leaders allege tried to provoke the young members of the community to revolt against the faith.

The article, titled 'Fake Hair for Stupid Sardarnis', brought out in the December issue of the magazine, drew the community's flak as it contained its Sikh woman author's account of ''rebellion'' against uncut hair, one of the key components of the faith.

''There was no intention to hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community... nor to incite any member of the Sikh community to act against the tenets of their religion. It, however, appears that the sentiments of members of the Sikh community have been hurt by the article and hence (we) offer our sincere apologies to them,'' a National Commission for Minorities statement quoted Femina editor Sathya Saran as saying in an apology to be published in the magazine's next issue.

In their reaction, the community leaders, who had vowed protests against Femina over the article, said the matter would be closed after the apology is published.

''Mistakes do happen. But admitting them is responsible journalism. The matter will be closed for good when the apology is published in the magazine,'' Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) leader Manjit Singh said.