Chandigarh, November 20
In a shocking incident which has caused uproar among the Sikh community, a dance party was allegedly organised in the premises of holy site of Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara hurting the religious sentiments.
Many Sikh leaders have come forward and condemned the “shameful incident”
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said: “We had objected to the appointment of a non-Sikh person as CEO of PMU Kartarpur Corridor in 2021. Since the management board has no knowledge of Sikh Maryada; we were afraid that there might be blasphemous actions at Gurdwara complex. Our fear has come true when video of CEO Sayed Abu Bakar Qureshi drinking alcohol and eating meat at Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara complex went viral yesterday!! We demand immediate dissolution of this PMU headed by Muslims whose actions have hurt the sentiments of Sikhs worldwide. @GovtofPakistan should hand over the mangt of Gurdwara Sahib to a Sikh body that adheres to Sikhi ethos and principles”
We We had objected to the appointment of a non-Sikh person as CEO of PMU Kartarpur Corridor in 2021. Since the management board has no knowledge of Sikh Maryada; we were afraid that there might be blasphemous actions at Gurdwara complex.
Our fear has come true when video of CEOhellip; https://t.co/fCigv72ief pic.twitter.com/lMBeo90JKH— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) November 20, 2023
Jagdip Singh Kahlon, the General Secretary of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, has alleged that alcohol and meat were served during the party, which goes against the beliefs of the Sikh community.
This too happened. Sacrilege at shrine in Kartarpur where people can be seen dancing, singing, enjoying a barbecue with non-vegetarian food items being organized for the crowd as they make merry, disrespecting the shrine. #KartarpurSahibControversy #GurdwaraIntegrity
Stronghellip; pic.twitter.com/37EtMQ0XAz— Sneha Mordani (@snehamordani) November 20, 2023
He strongly condemned the incident and urged the Pakistan government to take action against those responsible.
“Unacceptable! I strongly condemn the sacrilegious incident within the sacred premises of Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib where a party organised involving alcohol amp; meat. @GovtofPakistan should take swift action against all responsible people,” Kahlon posted on X (formerly Twitter).
In a similar incident in 2021, a Pakistani model’s bareheaded photos within the Gurdwara complex sparked widespread criticism on social media.
Expressing concern over the incident, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Harmeet Singh Kalka have taken note of the video and its potential implications, Khalsa Vox reported.
SGPC president Dhami emphasised that if the event occurred within the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib complex, it would constitute a violation of ‘maryada’ and Sikh sentiments, particularly in a place so closely associated with Guru Nanak Dev.
Expressing disappointment, he said, “The authorities should have refrained from indulging in such a kind of act as it would lead to hurting the sentiments of the global Sikh community.” DSGMC spokesperson Manjit Singh Bhoma demanded a public apology from the organizers, emphasizing that the event took place near the PMU office, an integral part of the Gurdwara Kartarpur complex. The call for an apology underscores the seriousness with which Sikh organisations view any actions that may disrespect the sanctity of the religious site.
This incident has reignited concerns about the need for strict adherence to Sikh ‘rehat maryada’ and the responsible management of religious sites.
Earlier, in 2021, a Pakistani model’s photos at Gurdwara Kartarpur had set the social media abuzz after some users pointed out the “bareheaded pictures” of her in the complex. The model had later deleted the photos and posted an apology on social media.
This is not the first time blasphemous actions have happened at Sri Kartarpur Sahibhellip; such derogatory things have happened time amp; again but @GovtofPakistan didn’t take any action against the Board for making Sri Kartarpur Sahib a picnic spot!
Pak Govt should amp; some respect tohellip; https://t.co/6pjmnotEVt
— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) November 20, 2023