Delhi Police entered Gurdwara Bangla Sahib on Saturday, walking through a passage with shoes on, while 2,000 protesters were detained across the city. The clip, captured as officers moved through a common passage, was shared on social media and sparked accusations of disrespect from opposition leaders.
The officers were moving to stop a planned protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a demonstration organized by the Cockroach Janta Party that had been denied permission. More than 2,000 protestors were detained in the city’s security sweep.
AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj slammed the police, saying they wore shoes and did not cover heads. Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa demanded an unconditional apology from former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of turning the shrine into a political battleground.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Delhi, clarified that the footage showed officers walking through a passage used by devotees before shoe removal, and that the video was circulated with malicious intent. He added that Delhi Police would pursue legal action against the viral clip.
Harmeet Singh Kalka, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, questioned what protestors were doing inside the shrine, alleging they carried placards and slogans. He stressed that gurdwaras are open to all but should not become venues for political protests.
Delhi Police said it would pursue legal action over the viral clip and called for an inquiry into the incident, while the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee pledged to investigate the allegations.