File Photo: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has announced the cancellation of the sixth edition of the World Kabaddi Cup scheduled to be held in the state from November 14 to 28. This has been done in the wake of an incident of desecration of the holy book of Sikhs and protests over them in the state.
Making the announcement in Chandigarh, the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the sports portfolio, said he had taken the emergent decision to cancel the Kabaddi Cup in the wake of the recent incident of desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib.
"Kabaddi symbolises the spirit of the Punjabis and their quest for excellence in rural sports. At a time when the entire Sikh community is shell shocked with grief at the ghastly manner in which Guru Granth Sahib has been desecrated, holding such a tournament is not appropriate," he said.
Sukhbir Badal said the feelings of the entire Punjabi community had been outraged after the "ghastly incidents of sacrilege". "My feelings too have been outraged and my conscience is not allowing me to preside over a tournament at a time when the Sikh community in India and all over the world is in grief over the ghastly acts of sacrilege," he said.