Even as former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, Kiran Bedi on Tuesday apologised for her ’12 o’ clock’ remark during the Hindi edition launch of her book ‘Fearless Governance’, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress condemned the contentious remark of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.

Punjab in-charge Jarnail Singh condemned the first female Indian Police Service (IPS) officer’s remarks. “When the Mughals were looting India and abducting women, the Sikhs fought with them and protected the sisters and daughters. It was 12 o’clock when it was time to attack the Mughals. This is the history of 12 o’clock. Shame on the BJP’s cheap mentality leaders who make fun of Sikhs instead of giving them respect,” he said in a tweet.

Castigating the BJP leader for disrespecting and hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community, Singh said that it is highly condemnable that such a high-rank officer, who hails from Punjab, deliberately made fun of Sikhs.

Demanding an unconditional apology from Bedi, AAP chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh said, “I feel pity at BJP leader Bedi if she isn’t aware of the Sikh history or if she does and deliberately hurt sentiments of the community then it is highly condemnable.”

Seeking legal action against Bedi, Punjab minister Harjot Singh Bains tweeted, “Shame on you and your thinking Kiran Bedi. Read about Sikhs and their history and the contribution of Sikhs to India. BJP is a factory of leaders having such a cheap mindset. Why is the BJP silent?”. He urged the National Commission for Minorities (NCM)chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura to immediately lodge an FIR against Bedi.

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said it was shocking and shameful to crack a joke on a community that too when Bedi is a Punjabi herself. He said Bedi must apologise for hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community. “Or we will understand that the BJP has tasked its leaders for the particular job,” he said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, in a tweet this evening Bedi sought forgiveness for her remark. “I have the highest regards for my community. I am a devotee of Baba Nanak Dev Ji. What I said to the audience even at my own cost (as I also belong here) is kindly not misread. I seek forgiveness for this. I am the last person to cause any hurt. I believe in Seva and loving kindness,” she said in a tweet.