New Delhi: Police have registered an FIR following a complaint by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) over an alleged disturbance at Bangla Sahib Gurdwara involving Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and workers.
The complaint, filed by DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka, names AAP leaders, MLAs and party chief Arvind Kejriwal. It alleges that party members entered the gurdwara premises and raised slogans. The complaint also accuses AAP leaders of circulating videos on social media that allegedly misrepresented the incident and blamed the gurdwara management.
According to Delhi Police sources, an investigation has been initiated, and officers are examining the video footage submitted in connection with the complaint.
Further details are awaited.
The development comes amid allegations by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convenor Saurav Das, who had claimed that police personnel entered the shrine wearing shoes and carrying weapons while attempting to detain protesters during the party’s October 10 demonstration.
Das also alleged that police officers pressured the gurdwara management to remove the protesters from the premises.
“Whoever behaves like this with our Sikh brothers or with a place of worship… The end is very near for this government. I request Sikh brothers to help us and fight against them,” Das had said.
Hundreds of protesters who were unable to enter Jantar Mantar during Saturday’s demonstration reportedly entered Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, located near the Election Commission of India office.
On Sunday, Bangla Sahib Gurdwara chairman Bhupinder Singh Bhullar said that he, along with Kalka and other DSGMC members, had met the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and submitted a complaint regarding the incident.
Bhullar said protesters were welcome to visit the gurdwara to offer prayers, have langar and rest. He added that accommodation, medical facilities and other assistance would be provided whenever necessary.
However, he made it clear that demonstrations would not be permitted inside the gurdwara premises, irrespective of the political party involved.
Several opposition leaders had shared videos on social media on Saturday, alleging that police personnel entered the religious premises wearing shoes.
Responding to the allegations, Delhi Police said in a statement that the footage showed some personnel walking through a common passage used by devotees to reach the area where footwear is removed.
The Delhi Police, in a statement, had said: “Regarding the video circulated on social media alleging entry by police staff in Gurdwara Bangla Sahib… in the circulated video some police staff is shown walking in the common passage used by all devotees to reach the point where shoes are taken off. The process is the same for all devotees coming to the gurdwara. The video has been circulated deliberately with malicious intent, to outrage the feelings of a respectable religious community. Legal action is being initiated.”
(IANS)
