Amritsar: A delegation of Sikh MLAs from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday urged the officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht , Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj , to summon Union home minister Amit Shah — who is not Sikh — over the Oct 10 incident at Delhi’s Gurdwara Bangla Sahib , where police personnel allegedly entered the premises with their shoes on and heads uncovered.




The demand raises questions about the limits of Akal Takht’s religious authority, which is rooted in the Sikh faith, and the propriety of seeking to summon a non-Sikh political leader before the temporal seat of Sikhism. Punjab BJP termed the demand “absurd”.




AAP MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar said gurdwaras offer refuge and shelter, and police could not justify entering the premises with uncovered heads and shoes on. MLA Manvinder Singh Giaspura described Oct 10 as a “black day for the Sikh community” and sought a firm response from Akal Takht. MLA Jeevan Jyot Kaur said the incident had hurt Sikh sentiments.




The delegation submitted a memorandum on the “violation of the sanctity of the gurdwara” and sought action against those responsible. They also questioned the silence of Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami.




The demand assumes significance in the light of the Jathedar’s own explanation in Jan this year, when he summoned Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to appear at the Akal Takht secretariat over alleged anti-Sikh remarks and objectionable conduct. Gargajj had clarified that Mann could not be summoned to appear at the ‘fasil’ (front facade) of Akal Takht under Sikh tradition and was instead asked to submit his explanation at the secretariat.




The distinction raises a pertinent question: if a Sikh chief minister considered ineligible to appear at the ‘fasil’ was summoned to the office, on what religious or institutional basis can a non-Sikh Union minister be summoned by Akal Takht?




Punjab BJP termed AAP’s demand “absurd and misleading”, alleging that it was a tactic to divert attention from Punjab govt’s failures. State BJP Spokesperson Sarchand Singh urged Giani Gargajj to take strict action against the AAP legislators for allegedly trying to secure political mileage in the name of religious decorum.




Citing a reported clarification by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Harmeet Singh Kalka, Sarchand said that police personnel had neither entered the Darbar Hall nor Langar Hall with their shoes on. He welcomed the registration of an FIR against AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and others on a complaint by DSGMC.