Reports of party with alcohol, meat organised in Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara sparks outrage

KARTARPUR (Pakistan): In a shocking incident that has caused uproar among the Sikh community, a party was allegedly organised on the premises of holy site of Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, hurting the religious sentiments.

Jagdip Singh Kahlon, the general secretary of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, has alleged that alcohol and meat were served during the party, which goes against the beliefs of the Sikh community. He strongly condemned the incident and urged the Pakistan government to take action against those responsible.

Unacceptable!

I strongly condemn the sacrilegious incident within the sacred premises of Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib where a party organised involving alcohol & meat. @GovtofPakistan should take swift action against all responsible people. #srikartarpursahib #sacrilege pic.twitter.com/Fj7YZBHcfH

— Jagdip Singh Kahlon (@jagdipskahlon) November 19, 2023

“Unacceptable! I strongly condemn the sacrilegious incident within the sacred premises of Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib where a party organised involving alcohol & meat. @GovtofPakistan should take swift action against all responsible people,” Kahlon posted on X (formerly Twitter).

In a similar incident in 2021, a Pakistani model’s bareheaded photos within the Gurdwara complex sparked widespread criticism on social media.

Expressing concern over the incident, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Harmeet Singh Kalka have taken note of the video and its potential implications, Khalsa Vox reported.

SGPC president Dhami emphasised that if the event occurred within the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib complex, it would constitute a violation of ‘maryada’ and Sikh sentiments, particularly in a place so closely associated with Guru Nanak Dev.

Expressing disappointment, he said, “The authorities should have refrained from indulging in such a kind of act as it would lead to hurting the sentiments of the global Sikh community.”

DSGMC spokesperson Manjit Singh Bhoma demanded a public apology from the organisers, emphasising that the event took place near the PMU office, an integral part of the Gurdwara Kartarpur complex. The call for an apology underscores the seriousness with which Sikh organisations view any actions that may disrespect the sanctity of the religious site.

This incident has reignited concerns about the need for strict adherence to Sikh ‘rehat maryada’ and the responsible management of religious sites. Notably, the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib holds immense significance for Sikhs worldwide, and any perceived disrespect is bound to evoke strong reactions from the Sikh community, Khalsa Vox reported.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Monday condemned the incident and demanded strict action against the people who organized an alcohol party inside the Gurudwara premises.

“The PMU Kartarpur corridor committee in Narowal, including the local Deputy Commissioner and DSP of Kartarpur Gurdwara administration organised a dance party, consumed alcohol and meat…Strict action should be taken against them. I condemn this act strongly and appeal to the Pakistan Govt to register a case against them and put them behind bars”, he said.

Moreover, the jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh, also called the incident as “unfortunate” and asked the Pakistan government to take strict action against the perpetrators. “This is really unfortunate. Pakistan government should know that Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara is a place of worship for us. They should take action against those responsible” Giani Harpreet Singh said.

The Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) spokesperson, Gurcharan Singh Grewal, while reiterating the Sikh community’s call for taking action against the culprits, asked the Jathedar of Akal Takht Kartarpur Sahib to clear his stand on the matter and ensure that such incidents would not happen again.

“The entire Sikh community condemns this shameful incident. Pakistan’s government should take action in this matter. I request the Jathedar of Akal Takht Kartarpur Sahib to clear their stand on this. so that such incident would not happen in future”, Gurcharan Singh Grewal said.(ANI)