NEW DELHI | The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has strongly condemned the BJP and Delhi Police personnel entering Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib wearing shoes and carrying batons while pursuing young protesters demonstrating against ‘Vote-Chori’ (vote theft). AAP stated that the protesters had sought refuge inside the sacred place of worship, and questioned the police action as a violation of the sanctity of the gurdwara and an affront to Sikh principles.
The Aam Aadmi Party stated, “BJP’s’ anti-Sikh face had once again been exposed. To arrest young protesters demonstrating against Vote-Chori, Amit Shah’s Delhi Police entered Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib wearing shoes and carrying batons, violating its sanctity.”
The party emphasised that a gurdwara is a safe haven for everyone, and that the young protesters had sought refuge there while respecting its sanctity. Despite this, the BJP had once again demonstrated its hatred towards Sikhism, the Sikh Gurus and their sacred places of worship.
Reacting to Delhi Police personnel entering Gurdwara Bangla Sahib wearing shoes, AAP Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia expressed his disbelief, questioning, “What is this? Delhi Police inside Gurudwara Bangla Sahib?”
Meanwhile, sharing a video on X showing Delhi Police personnel entering the gurdwara wearing shoes, AAP Delhi Unit President Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned, “Did the police enter Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib? Has the BJP government lost its senses? The police personnel are wearing shoes and have not even covered their heads.”
Saurabh Bharadwaj posted another video on X showing the police dragging Sikh youth and addressed Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stating, “I received this video from someone. If this is true, it is the height of shamelessness. Delhi Police cannot strip Sikh protesters of their clothes like this. We had earlier reported that the Delhi Police had tried to pull down the trousers of protesters. This is absolutely disgusting. Please respond.”
On the other hand, Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh recalled that Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji had described Babur as a Jaabar (tyrant) and conveyed to all Sikhs the message that they must never bow before dictatorship or the ruling power of the time. He emphasised, “Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji had refused to bow before the Mughals and sacrificed everything, conveying the same message that people must never surrender before oppression and tyranny. However, the management committees currently running Sikh religious institutions are bowing before those in power, which is entirely contrary to Sikh principles.”
Jarnail Singh further stated that the manner in which police personnel entered Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib wearing boots and carrying batons, and beat people while forcing them out, was deeply shameful and condemnable. He questioned, “Why had the gurdwara’s management become so desperate to appease the BJP that it had forgotten Sikh principles altogether.”
Explaining the significance of the Nishan Sahib flying above gurdwaras, he emphasised that it signifies that anyone seeking shelter, langar or help in times of distress can come there without hesitation, because a gurdwara is the Guru’s home, where everyone is equal. He asserted, “The office-bearers of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), in their attempt to appease the BJP, had shown disrespect towards Sikh principles, and the Sangat would certainly demand answers from them.”
