Chandigarh: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday announced cancellation of the Kabaddi World Cup that was to be held in the state from November 14 to 28.
Badal, who also holds the Sports portfolio, said the sixth edition of the tournament was cancelled as a mark of grief over the recent incidents of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji.
“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 Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji has been desecrated, holding such a tournament is not appropriate.
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 was quoted as saying by Swadesh News.
Torn pages of a Sikh religious scripture were on Sunday found in Ghwaddi villageof the district after which heavy police force was summoned to avert any untoward incident.
The state has witnessed a spate of protests last week over alleged desecration of Sikh holy books and two persons lost their lives in police action, prompting Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to appeal for calm to assuage the community.
Three alleged instances of desecration of Sikh holy books took places recently.
(With Agency inputs)
