Gurugram: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has criticised security measures taken at Gurdwara Ratgarh Sahib in Naraingarh town of Haryana’s Ambala district ahead of the arrival of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, terming it as an act that hurt religious sentiments of the Sikhs.
On 29 April, Saini posted pictures on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) from his visit to Gurdwara Ratgarh Sahib, Naraingarh, on the occasion of the ‘Prakash Parv’ (birth anniversary) of Guru Tegh Bahadur — ninth of the 10 Sikh Gurus.
An unverified video of the incident circulating on WhatsApp groups showed three security officials with metal detectors in their hands checking the area where the Guru Granth Sahib was enshrined on the stage. ThePrint has seen the video.
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami condemned the act recorded during an ongoing Gurmat Samagam (religious congregation) before Saini’s arrival and reiterated that reverence of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib is of great importance to the Sikhs. “However, the police administration of BJP-led government in Haryana has violated it,” he alleged.
गुरुद्वारा साहिब,नारायणगढ़ में हिंद की चादर,गुरु तेग बहादुर जी के प्रकाश पर्व के पावन अवसर पर मत्था टेक कर गुरुओं का आशीर्वाद प्राप्त किया।गुरु तेग बहादुर जी का देश और धर्म के लिए बलिदान अतुलनीय है।पूरा देश उनका ऋणी है और रहेगा। pic.twitter.com/0T7xobu6LW
— Nayab Saini (मोदी का परिवार) (@NayabSainiBJP) April 29, 2024
Dhami claimed that it was clear from the video that the Haryana Police had hurt sentiments of Sikhs by checking the place where the Guru Granth Sahib was enshrined. He also asked Saini to apologise to the Sikh community, while taking moral responsibility for the incident.
The SGPC president said Saturday that personalities from around the world pay obeisance to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib with reverence and respect, but the action of the BJP government in Haryana is contrary to the traditions of the Guru’s house.
Dhami expressed regret that even a few days after the incident, no reaction or notice has been issued by the leaders of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), which he said proved “they are working under influence of BJP government”.
Meanwhile, speaking to ThePrint, HSGMC president Bhupinder Singh Assandh said he came to know about Dhami’s statement Saturday and has constituted a fact-finding committee to ascertain the truth. Asked about the names of the members of the committee, Assandh said he would provide details once the committee submits its report.
Gurvinder Singh Dhamija, a former general secretary and now advisor of the HSGMC, told ThePrint that he had seen the video and found the conduct of the security guards highly unbecoming and objectionable.
“I have been associated with the former CM Manohar Lal Khattar for almost eight years. During this time, I have accompanied him to several Gurdwaras across the state. But never has the area where Guru Granth Sahib is enshrined subjected to security checks. It is a disrespect to the religious sentiments of the Sikhs and highly objectionable,” he said.
ThePrint reached Ambala Superintendent of Police Jashandeep Singh Randhawa via call and texts but failed to get a response. This report will be updated if a response is received.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)