BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday strongly condemned the sacrilege attempt at the Golden Temple complex, where a man repotedly picked up a Sri Sahib (sacred sword) placed in front of the Guru Granth Sahib.
The incident took place on Wednesday night during an Akhand Path. According to reports, the man entered the sanctum, performed a parkarma (circumambulation) around the Guru Granth Sahib and suddenly picked up the Sri Sahib placed before it. Sewadars present at the shrine immediately intervened and overpowered the man before handing him over to the police. The accused is currently in police custody.
BJP national spokesperson R P Singh described the incident as an attack on the religious sentiments of the Sikh community. In a post on X, Singh said the act was not just a case of misconduct or a security lapse but a direct assault on the faith and emotions of Sikhs.
He urged the Punjab government and law enforcement agencies to carry out a fair, transparent and time-bound investigation into the matter. Singh said everyone connected to the incident, whether directly or indirectly, should be identified and brought to justice. He added that the truth must come out and accountability should not be limited to lower-level officials.
He further said any attempt to disturb the sanctity of Sri Harmandir Sahib carries serious consequences beyond the immediate incident. "Such acts have the potential to hurt religious sentiments, disturb communal harmony and create unrest. Therefore, it is imperative that this matter is not treated as an isolated act without thoroughly examining whether there are larger motives, organised elements or conspiratorial forces behind it," Singh said.
Expressing similar concerns, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal demanded that the government identify and arrest the “real conspirator” behind the incident.
In a post on X, Badal strongly condemned the sacrilege attempt and called for the strictest possible punishment for those responsible. Raising questions over the government's handling of the issue, Singh said the Bhagwant Mann government must answer why such incidents continue to occur despite previous warnings and security concerns.
"The people of Punjab deserve answers. Why do such incidents continue to take place despite past warnings? What concrete measures were implemented after the 2021 sacrilege attempt? Were the recommendations arising from that incident fully enforced? Why has public confidence not been restored despite repeated assurances? These are legitimate questions that demand clear and convincing answers," he said.
Badal also referred to the 2021 incident at the Golden Temple when a man crossed the security barrier and picked up the Sri Sahib kept near the sanctum. He alleged that even after several years, neither the previous Congress government nor the current AAP government had identified those behind that incident.
Singh said Sri Harmandir Sahib is not only a place of worship but also a symbol of sacrifice, faith, human dignity and universal brotherhood. "The painful memories of the 2021 sacrilege attempt should have served as a permanent reminder that even a single lapse at Sri Harmandir Sahib is one lapse too many. Punjab deserves answers, accountability and decisive action," Singh said.
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