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By Manjeet Sehgal: The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the authority which manages Sikh shrines in India, apologised to a girl who was allegedly not allowed to enter the Golden Temple as she had a tricolour painted on her face.
The statement by the SGPC comes in the wake of a massive controversy after one of the staffers outside the temple was heard saying to the girl, “It isn’t India, it is Punjab.”
Reacting to the controversy, the general secretary of the SGPC, Gurcharan Singh Grewal, said there was no discrimination against devotees, and that people from any region, caste, or religion were welcome to pay obeisance.
“The staffer was provoked. Being the general secretary of the SGPC, I apologise in case the devotee faced misbehaviour. However, the motive of trolls on social media was shameful,” said Gurcharan Singh.
ALSO WATCH | Outrage after woman with Tricolour painted on face denied entry into Golden Temple
While the general secretary tended his apology, the guard Sarabjit Singh, who had passed the controversial statement, remained unapologetic.
“She was wearing a skirt. I told her about dignity and asked her to cover her body. Legs should be completely covered. Everybody is welcome at Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) but with dignity,” said Sabjit Singh in a video.
SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said, “Conversation between devotee and Sewadar should not be portrayed negatively. I strongly condemn the narrative being created against the Sikhs on social media about the viral conversation of a female devotee.”
While the SGPC authorities avoided commenting on the “Punjab not India remark”, senior BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa reacted sharply to the controversy.
The BJP leader said, “Behaviour of Sewadar (staffer) with a devotee wasn’t appropriate”.
“If there was something objectionable on her part, Sewadar should have handled it politely. His comment was highly condemnable. The SGPC should train its staff that attends visitors,” he added.
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