Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee filed a complaint along with the Delhi Police against AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, AAP MLAs/workers and others regarding the incident at the premises of Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib during the protests.
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Harmeet Singh Kalka on Sunday condemned an attempt to stage a protest inside Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, saying it had hurt Sikh sentiments.
The DSGMC has also filed a complaint with the Delhi Police against AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, party MLAs, workers and others over the incident at the gurdwara premises during the protests.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Kalka said the gurdwara was a sacred place where people came to offer prayers and seek solace, expressing distress over attempts to turn the religious institution into a political arena.
“It is deeply distressing to see attempts being made to turn Gurudwara Bangla Sahib into a political arena. This is a sacred institution, a place where people come to offer prayers and seek relief from their suffering. Yet, protesters intruded and attempted to stage a demonstration there, deeply hurting Sikh sentiments,” he said.
Gurdwaras are not places for protests: Kalka
Kalka stressed that demonstrations should not be held inside gurdwaras, adding that those wishing to protest should choose appropriate locations, such as outside Parliament or near the people against whom they were demonstrating.
“One may offer prayers inside the Gurudwara, but protests are not permitted. If anyone wishes to protest, they should do so outside Parliament or in front of those against whom they are fighting,” he said.
Raises concern over police presence on gurdwara premises
The DSGMC chief also expressed concern over uniformed police personnel moving through the gurdwara complex, saying their presence had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community. He clarified, however, that the police had not entered the Darbar Sahib, the main prayer hall.
“The sight of police personnel walking through the Gurudwara premises hurts the hearts of the Sikh community. It is absolutely intolerable for police in uniform to traverse the Gurudwara grounds, as this is not a public thoroughfare,” he said.
Kalka accuses Delhi AAP MLAs of politicising incident
Kalka accused AAP MLAs in Delhi of politicising the incident and alleged that the party was linking the matter to Punjab politics instead of addressing the circumstances surrounding the protesters’ entry into the gurdwara.
“The situation is being manipulated, and Aam Aadmi Party MLAs in Delhi, in particular, are attempting to play dirty politics over it. I want to warn them: this is a Gurudwara, not an arena for your politics. If you play such games here, Guru Sahib will never forgive you,” he said.
He also urged those sharing videos of the incident on social media not to politicise the matter. According to Kalka, the focus had remained on the presence of police personnel rather than the circumstances that led to their arrival and the protesters’ removal.
DSGMC examining CCTV footage
Kalka said the DSGMC was examining CCTV footage to establish how the protesters had entered the gurdwara premises to stage the demonstration.
“We are fully examining the CCTV footage and will address the issue regarding the protesters specifically, how they managed to enter the Gurdwara premises to stage a protest. We will sit down and discuss this; the atmosphere there has been tense for the last few days, and while we don’t want any untoward incidents in such a climate, this matter must be dealt with strictly,” he said.
(with ANI inputs)
