India, July 26 -- A major controversy has erupted over alleged violation of Sikh 'maryada' (religious code) after a song-and-dance video went viral from a Punjab government event held to commemorate the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains on Saturday issued an apology and "humbly submitted" himself for a hearing scheduled by the Akal Takht, the supreme temporal body of the Sikhs, for August 1.

His apology came almost immediately after the jathedar summoned him and the director of the state language department, Jaswant Singh Zafar, to appear before five Singh Sahiban (Sikh clergy) on August 1 at the Akal Takht.

Bir Singh, the singer who performed at the on July 24 event, has already offered an ap...