The BJP on Monday extended full support to an “amritdhari” Sikh person, who was denied entry at the Independence-Day event at the Red Fort, with party national spokesperson RP Singh submitting a formal representation against Assistant Commissioner of Police Shashi Kant Gaur to Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range) Madhur Verma.
Singh, who termed the incident an insult to the Sikh community, said Gurdhyan Singh of Kalsana village in Nabha was invited to attend the Independence Day function but was not allowed to attend the same as he was carrying ‘kirpan’.
Gurdhyan Singh, who is also the ‘sarpanch’ (village head) of his village, was denied entry solely because he was carrying the ‘kirpan’, a sacred article of Sikh faith and constitutionally protected under Article 25.
The BJP leader called it a violation of constitutional rights of a person, as upheld by the Supreme Court, and hence amounted to both an insult to the Sikh community and an act of dereliction of duty, bringing disrepute to the city police.
Notably, the Joint Commissioner of Police interacted with the ‘sarpanch’ through a video call and expressed deep regret for the incident.
The police officer also said that an inquiry would be conducted into the matter.
He also invited the ‘sarpanch’ for a personal meeting, reaffirming goodwill and respect.
The BJP leader welcomed his gesture, saying strict instructions must be issued to prevent recurrence of such incidents and to fully safeguard the constitutional and religious rights of the Sikh community.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami had on Sunday condemned the incident, saying the refusal to allow Gurdhyan Singh entry because of his “kirpan” was a reflection of an “anti-Sikh mentality”.
He emphasised that preventing a Sikh from participating in a national event on such a basis is an act of treating people from the community as outsiders in their own country.
The “five kakars”, which include the kirpan, are an integral part of Sikh identity and cannot be abandoned, he clarified, and called for a strict action against the officials responsible.