A delegation of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators on Monday, 12 October called on Akal Takht Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargajj in Amritsar and submitted a formal memorandum demanding accountability for Delhi Police personnel who entered Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi with their shoes on and heads uncovered — a breach the lawmakers described as a violation of the sanctity of Sikh religious institutions. The delegation sought the Jathedar's intervention to summon Union Home Minister Amit Shah and ensure those responsible are held to account.

What the AAP Delegation Said

AAP MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar, speaking to the media alongside MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, said the incident had deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community. He argued that while students being chased by the police had entered the gurdwara premises, that did not justify the conduct of the officers inside the sacred space.

'Gurdwara sahibs have traditionally been places of refuge, where people seek shelter, peace and langar. The students being chased by the police had entered the gurdwara premises, but that did not justify police personnel entering the sacred premises with their heads uncovered and shoes on. The Centre must respect Sikh religious sentiments, and the Jathedar must take appropriate action on the memorandum submitted by our delegation,' Nijjar said.

Invoking 1984 and Operation Bluestar

AAP MLA Manvinder Singh Giaspura declared 10 October a 'black day' for the Sikh community, drawing a pointed parallel to the events of 1984. He said the community had not forgotten past assaults on its religious institutions and would not forget this incident either. The delegation invoked the memory of Operation Bluestar to underscore what they described as a recurring pattern of disrespect toward Sikh sacred spaces.

Notably, the AAP lawmakers' appeal to historical memory represents a deliberate political framing — one that places the current incident within a longer continuum of grievance rather than treating it as an isolated lapse.

Opposition Parties Under Scrutiny

The delegation also trained its fire on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami, questioning their silence on the episode. Giaspura alleged that a social media post by Harsimrat Kaur Badal condemning the incident had subsequently been deleted, raising questions about political pressure within the SAD camp. He said the Sikh community was looking to Akal Takht Sahib for a firm response.

Background and Context

The incident at Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib — one of Delhi's most prominent and venerated Sikh shrines — took place last week when Delhi Police personnel reportedly pursued students into the gurdwara premises without observing the mandatory religious protocols of removing footwear and covering their heads. This comes amid already heightened political tensions between the AAP-led Punjab government and the Centre. Gurdwaras across Sikh tradition are regarded as inviolable sanctuaries, and the protocols surrounding entry are considered non-negotiable markers of respect.

What Happens Next

The Akal Takht Jathedar, who holds the highest temporal and religious seat of authority within Sikhism, has yet to issue a formal response to the memorandum. Whether he chooses to summon Home Minister Shah — a politically charged action — will be closely watched. Meanwhile, the AAP's outreach to Akal Takht signals an effort to seize the moral and political initiative on a sentimentally charged issue ahead of a politically sensitive season in Punjab.