Delhi Sikh body slams designer Tarun Tahiliani
DSGMC chief administrator Ajmer Singh said the skirts are being sold from the shopping mall for Rs 9,900.
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has served a legal notice on designer Tarun Tahiliani for allegedly using the visuals of Panj Payare (five holy men) and Sikh holy sign Nishan Sahab on the skirts he had designed. According to DSGMC, by printing these visuals, the designer has hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikhs. Tahiliani has been asked to withdraw these skirts within 15 days. These skirts are being reportedly sold from a shopping mall in Vasant Kunj.
DSGMC chief administrator Ajmer Singh said the skirts are being sold from the shopping mall for Rs 9,900. The matter was brought to DSGMC's notice by a Sikh woman. Satvinder Kaur had informed DSGMC that she purchased one skirt bearing the brand name of Tarun Tahiliani at a cost of Rs 9,900 from his shop at Emporio Mall in Vasant Kunj.
The skirts feature pictures of Sikh holy symbol and visuals of five holy men (Panj Pyare) which is not permitted. DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK told MAIL TODAY that Sikh religion does not permit painting and printing of the pictures of their gurus, the five holy men and the religious symbol on apparels such as skirts or shirts.
He said Tahiliani has been asked to withdraw the controversial skirts from the market within 15 days. DSGMC has sought Tahiliani's apology and has threatened legal action if he fails to withdraw the skirts.
"The designer was categorically conveyed that printing of religious symbols on a cloth or a ready-to-wear outfit is highly objectionable and against the Sikh tenets. The picture of an old man playing cards printed on a skirt along with the religious symbols is in bad taste," DSGMC president said.
"In view of the above you are requested to kindly call back all such skirts from the outlets of the markets to which you have sold them for further selling to the public within 15 days without any further delay. You may kindly note that in case you fail to withdraw these skirts from the market, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee will be constrained to initiate legal action against you under the law and you will have to bear all the costs and pay the same to DSGMC. You are further requested not to indulge in such illegal activities in future against Sikh Gurus and Sikh religion. Your reply with an unconditional apology should reach DSGMC," the notice stated.
The company agreed to the demands of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and later issued a statement saying, "As a Design House, we draw inspiration from many fronts. In fact, this collection is in collaboration with the Singh twins who are Sikhs themselves. Hence it did not even cross our minds to check on the sensitivities of placement of such a print.
As a gesture of goodwill and because our company policy is to spread harmony and not offend anyone we have instructed our stores to withdraw the particular skirts immediately from display and return them to the warehouse."