Chandigarh: The giant Akali leader and the Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal has demanded a public apology from the UPA government.

Badal yesterday described the Centre's stand before the Supreme Court questioning the very existence Lord Rama, as "shocking beyond belief and utterly insensitive."

Badal demanded that the government should tender a "timely and unconditional apology to the masses for having grievously hurt their religious sentiments."

Badal said, “The government must make amends for this gave lapse.”
He also called for the strict action against the functionaries responsible for the "blunder".

He said, “The holy scriptures, including the Ramayana, are the central tenets of faith of millions of people and have been handed down to us from generation to generation. To doubt the historical authenticity of these scriptures and of the holy personages who figured in these is an unbelievably thoughtless action.”