Akal Takht Jathedar Condemns Rajasthan Police Action Inside Ganganagar Gurdwaraਗੰਗਾਨਗਰ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਾਜਸਥਾਨ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਦੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਦੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਦੇ ਜਥੇਦਾਰ ਨੇ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕੀਤੀ

What happened at Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Ji

Rajasthan Police personnel allegedly entered Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Ji in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, and carried out action that the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee say violated the sanctity of the gurdwara.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said police personnel damaged food supplies in the gurdwara's langar (community kitchen), vandalised property on the premises, and tore posters carrying photographs of Sant Giani Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale and other Sikh figures. The reports did not state the date of the incident. Local Sikh leader Bhai Tejinderpal Singh was arrested in connection with the incident.

Jathedar demands inquiry and release

The Jathedar called the police action "highly condemnable" and said it hurt the sanctity and dignity of the gurdwara and Sikh sentiments. He urged the Rajasthan chief minister to order an impartial inquiry into both the police action and Tejinderpal Singh's arrest, demanded strict action against any officials found responsible, and said, "The government should immediately release Bhai Tejinderpal Singh."

He said that if the police had any issue to address, they should have followed lawful procedures while respecting Sikh religious protocol and the sanctity of the gurdwara, "rather than entering a Sikh religious place and carrying out such 'vandalism'." He added that Sikhs would not tolerate what he described as injustice against a Sikh leader.

Delegation inspected the site

According to the Jathedar, a Sikh delegation led by Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Tek Singh visited Sri Ganganagar and inspected the site. The delegation found the police action highly objectionable and said it violated the religious protocol of the gurdwara.

SGPC chief echoes condemnation

SGPC president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami also strongly condemned the alleged desecration of Guru Ka Langar, the tearing of posters of Bhindranwale and other Sikh martyrs, and the arrest of Bhai Tejinderpal Singh Timma. He said such conduct inside a gurdwara could not be justified under any circumstances, alleged the arrest was an attempt to suppress the Sikh community's voice, and demanded an impartial investigation, strict action against those responsible, and Timma's immediate release.

Police version awaited

NDTV reported that the Rajasthan Police's account of the incident was not immediately available. At the time of publication, no official response from the Rajasthan Police or the state government had been quoted in the reports.

What is the Akal Takht?

The Akal Takht in Amritsar is the highest temporal seat of Sikh authority, and its Jathedar speaks for the Sikh community on matters of religious conduct.

Where did the incident take place?

At Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Ji in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, according to the Akal Takht Jathedar and the SGPC.

Who was arrested?

Bhai Tejinderpal Singh, described as a local Sikh leader in Rajasthan who had long been raising Sikh issues, was arrested in connection with the incident.

Has Rajasthan Police responded?

At the time of publication, the Rajasthan Police's account of the incident was not available, and NDTV said no official police response had been obtained.