Pilgrims asked to remove mask at Golden Temple, SGPC denies role

AMRITSAR:EVEN as Covid-19 cases continue to mount in Punjab, the sewadars deputed at the entrance of the Golden Temple sanctum sanctorum continue asking some of the devotees to remove their masks.

Not all devotees entering the complex are seen wearing masks and those with ones are asked to take them off by the sewadars comprising volunteers and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) employees near the darshani deori leading to the sanctum sanctorum.

The SGPC, which manages the shrine affairs, denied having issued such an order to its employees.

“We don’t ask anyone to remove masks. They can go with it without any restriction. Nor has any such order been issued. Anyone from devotees who perform sewa (voluntary service) may have done so. We will look into it,” said Mukhtiar Singh, chief manager of the shrine.

SGPC member Kiranjot Kaur wrote in a social media post, “I have personally seen the sewadars asking people to remove their masks before entering Darbar Sahib. I took it up with the SGPC chief secretary, committee president’s assistant and the shrine manager. They all blamed shrine head granthi Giani Jagtar Singh for this. I spoke to him and he assured me that he will discuss it with others. But nothing happened.”

Jarnail Singh, a daily visitor to the Golden Temple, said, “I have seen the sewadars asking the devotees to remove the masks. Now, the devotees themselves remove their masks after entering the complex.”