Sikh priest gives his sword to Nikki Haley's husband, stirs row

AMRITSAR: A member of the Sikh clergy handing over his ceremonial sword to South Carolina governor Nikki Haley's husband here upset a number of people at the Golden Temple here on Saturday.

Granthi of the Golden Temple, Giani Jaswinder Singh, handed over his 'siri sahib' to Michael Hayley during the couple's visit at the temple.

Many said this was against maryada or Sikh religious law. The granthi handed over the sword after the couple touched his feet to ask for his blessings.

The sword was given after manager of the Golden Temple Partap Singh, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) members Manjit Singh and Rajinder Singh Mehta had already honoured the Haleys.

Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh said, "You should ask him why he honoured Haley's husband with his siri sahib which he had held in his capacity of granthi of Golden Temple. It is wrong and violation of maryada."

Head granthi of the Golden Temple, Giani Jagtar Singh said, "It would have been better had he given some other sword to Haley instead the one which is given to a granthi as an honour." He said he would raise the issue with SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar so he could give a message to all.

Senior professor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Balwant Singh said a granthi carry a ceremonial sword which becomes part of their dress code. He said there was no need to honour anyone in an individual capacity especially when Michael had already been honoured by SGPC.

He added that he should have avoided honouring Michael with his ceremonial sword. "If at all he wanted to honour him, he could have given him some other sword and not the one held by him," the scholar said.

Despite repeated attempts Giani Jaswinder Singh couldn't be contacted.