SGPC rolls out red carpet for Sajjan at the Golden Temple
RADICAL SIKHS RAISED SLOGANS OF ‘KHALISTAN ZINDABAD’ AND CLASHED WITH THE SGPC TASK FORCE WHEN THEY WERE PREVENTED FROM MEETING SAJJAN
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) rolled out the red carpet for Canadian defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan visit to the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikhs, amid tight security on Thursday.
Unlike Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s cold shoulder, the apex Sikh religious body decided to honour the visiting dignitary and kept radical Sikhs at bay. The radical elements raised slogans of ‘Khalistan zindabad’ and clashed with the SGPC task force when they were prevented from meeting Sajjan near the temple entrance.
A calm Sajjan, attired in a grey turban, white shirt and a pair of grey trousers, arrived at 7am, walked the ‘parikrama’ (path around the sanctum sanctorum) before sitting and listening to the kirtan (prayers) in the Darbar Sahib for half an hour. He offered ‘parsad’ at the shrine before he was honoured with the ‘siropa’ (robe of honour).
The SGPC put up a small tent in the plaza for his reception. Its task force cordoned off the area and did not allow members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) from entering the venue to meet the Canadian minister. A scuffle ensued between SAD(A) activists and the task force. Upset, the radicals raised slogans of ‘Khalistan zindabad’. Unperturbed, Sajjan received another ‘siropa’ from SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar there. He was also presented a sword and a memento.
Badungar and senior SGPC members remained with the minister throughout the visit. Though Sajjan did not interact with the media, Badungar said, “It’s an honour to host a person who has made such a great name for himself. He has done the Sikh community proud.”
Sajjan landed at Amritsar on Wednesday evening but was not given a state reception after Amarinder declared he will not meet him as the Canadian minister was “a Khalistani sympathiser”.