Amritsar, June 12
The BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal leaders have demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged sacrilege attempt inside the Golden Temple complex, an incident that has sparked concern and anger among many members of the Sikh community.
The incident took place on Wednesday night during an Akhand Path, a continuous recitation of Sikh scriptures, at Sri Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple. According to officials, a man entered the sanctum, performed a parkarma (circumambulation) around the Guru Granth Sahib and then allegedly picked up a Sri Sahib, a sacred sword placed before the Sikh holy scripture.
Sewadars (volunteers) present at the shrine quickly intervened, overpowered the man and handed him over to police. The accused remains in custody while investigations continue. For many devotees, the incident has revived painful memories of a similar sacrilege attempt in 2021, when another man breached security inside the Golden Temple and reached the area near the Guru Granth Sahib.
Reacting to the latest incident, BJP national spokesperson R P Singh described it as an attack on the religious sentiments of Sikhs and urged authorities to conduct a transparent and time bound investigation.
He said investigators should identify everyone connected to the incident and determine whether it was an isolated act or part of a wider conspiracy.
“The truth must be placed before the public,” Singh said, adding that any breach of the shrine’s sanctity could have wider implications for communal harmony.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal also condemned the incident and called for the arrest of what he described as the “real conspirator” behind the alleged act.
Badal questioned why those responsible for the 2021 incident had still not been identified, despite years of investigations under successive governments.
The BJP and SAD both criticised the Punjab government, arguing that stronger measures should have been put in place following previous security breaches at the shrine.
The Golden Temple, one of Sikhism’s holiest sites, attracts thousands of worshippers and visitors every day. Any incident affecting its sanctity often evokes strong emotions among Sikhs in India and around the world.
Police have not yet disclosed details about the accused or a possible motive. The investigation is ongoing.
