Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday cancelled the sixth edition of the World Kabaddi Cup scheduled to be held across the state in November following violence after the desecration of the Sikh holy book.
Badal, who also holds the sports portfolio, said that he took the decision to cancel the tournament, which was scheduled to be held from November 14 to 28, as a "mark of grief over the recent incidents of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji".
Sources in the state government said that the kabaddi cup was cancelled owing to the volatile situation in the state after recent incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib which has led to violence across Punjab.
"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," Badal said in a statement here.
"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," Badal said.
The Kabaddi World Cup has teams from different countries, including women teams.