DSGMC Files Complaint Against Kejriwal Over Bangla Sahib Protest
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has lodged a police complaint against Arvind Kejriwal following an alleged protest near Bangla Sahib.
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has intensified its protest against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by lodging a formal police complaint against party supremo Arvind Kejriwal. The move follows an alleged attempt by AAP workers to stage a demonstration near the sacred Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, an incident that the committee claims has caused "great resentment" within the Sikh community.
Allegations of Disrespecting Religious Sanctity
DSGMC President Harmeet Singh Kalka stated on Sunday that the incident involved individuals posing as protesters to enter the area near the gurdwara. According to Kalka, these individuals unfurled banners, displayed posters, and raised slogans, actions which he described as being directly contrary to the sanctity of the religious site.
"There is great resentment within the Sikh community regarding the manner in which some AAP workers entered Gurudwara Bangla Sahib posing as protesters, unfurled banners and posters, and staged a demonstration," Kalka said. He further alleged that the individuals identified by the committee are closely associated with the AAP, necessitating a thorough investigation.
Controversy Over Police Presence and Social Media Claims
The dispute has also extended to the role of law enforcement and the subsequent narrative shared on social media. While the committee acknowledged that the area in question is a public thoroughfare and that police officers did not physically step onto the gurdwara premises, they expressed strong objections to the presence of uniformed personnel in the immediate vicinity.
Kalka issued specific instructions to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to ensure that police personnel avoid entering the 'Guru Ghar' in uniform to respect religious sentiments. He also leveled serious accusations against AAP leadership, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, for allegedly spreading misinformation.
The DSGMC President claimed that:
- AAP MLAs and workers tweeted incomplete information to mislead the public.
- Claims were made that police had entered the gurdwara premises, which the committee denies.
- The narrative was manipulated to create a false impression of police interference inside the holy site.
Strict Stance on Demonstrations Inside Gurdwara
While the DSGMC maintained that it does not oppose the democratic right to protest or the movement of devotees, it drew a firm line regarding the location of such activities. Kalka emphasized that while thousands of devotees—the 'Sangat'—visit the gurdwara without hindrance, political demonstrations will not be permitted within the premises of the 'Guru Ghar'.
"If anyone comes there to stage a protest—whether it is Arvind Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi, or even the National President of the BJP—we will not allow anyone to demonstrate inside the Gurudwara," Kalka asserted, reiterating that the committee's primary duty is to preserve the sanctity of the religious institution.
In a parallel development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also stepped into the fray. BJP National Spokesperson and former Delhi MLA RP Singh has petitioned the National Commission for Minorities, seeking urgent intervention regarding the alleged incident.