Punjab BJP accuses AAP of violating Gurdwara Bangla Sahib's sanctity for politics
Synopsis
Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon has accused AAP of turning Gurdwara Bangla Sahib — one of Delhi's most revered Sikh shrines — into a political battleground, citing videos of party workers raising slogans inside the premises. With the DSGMC backing BJP's account and Dhillon invoking prior clashes with Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the row signals a sharp escalation in BJP's effort to frame AAP as hostile to Sikh religious institutions.
Key Takeaways
Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon on 12 October 2026 accused AAP of violating the sanctity of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi .
Videos reportedly show AAP protesters entering the gurdwara with placards and raising political slogans inside the premises.
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) confirmed that protesters violated the maryada (religious code) of the shrine.
Police reportedly acted only within the outer premises and did not enter the Darbar Hall , according to Dhillon.
Dhillon demanded that Arvind Kejriwal explain why party workers were sent to raise slogans inside the gurdwara.
BJP alleged that AAP had previously also confronted Sri Akal Takht Sahib , suggesting a pattern of disrespect toward Sikh institutions.
Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon on Monday, 12 October 2026, sharply condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), alleging that the party had deliberately desecrated the sanctity of the historic Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi by staging a political demonstration inside the sacred premises, in violation of Sikh religious traditions.
What Dhillon Alleged
Dhillon stated that videos showed AAP protesters entering the gurdwara premises carrying placards, raising political slogans, and causing a commotion. He emphasised that while there are numerous legitimate platforms for political activity, disturbing the sanctity and religious decorum of a house of worship is 'highly condemnable.'
'Gurdwaras are centres of faith and devotion for the Sikh community,' Dhillon said, adding that AAP had 'not spared even this sacred place in pursuit of its political interests.'
The Police and DSGMC Response
Dhillon also pushed back against what he described as AAP's counter-campaign targeting the police and gurdwara management. He clarified that police had acted only to restrain those creating a disturbance within the outer premises and had not entered the Darbar Hall — the innermost sanctum where devotees remove their shoes and offer prayers.
Notably, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) had already stated that the protesters violated the maryada (religious code of conduct) of the gurdwara, lending institutional weight to BJP's position.
Dhillon's Direct Challenge to Kejriwal
In pointed remarks, Dhillon directly questioned AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal: 'Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party must answer why they sent their people into the gurdwara sahib to raise slogans. It is deeply unfortunate that a sacred place like Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, which provides shelter and serves langar to thousands of people every day, was turned into a political battleground.'
Broader Allegations Against AAP
Dhillon went further, alleging that this was not an isolated incident. He claimed that AAP had previously confronted Sri Akal Takht Sahib — the supreme temporal seat of Sikh authority — and was now attempting to extend its alleged pattern of disrespect toward Sikh institutions. He urged people of Punjab and the wider Sikh Sangat to remain vigilant against what he termed an 'anti-Guru party.'
This comes amid a sustained political rivalry between BJP and AAP in both Delhi and Punjab, where Sikh religious sentiment remains a significant electoral factor. AAP has not responded publicly to Dhillon's specific allegations as of the time of this report.
Point of View
Dhillon is building a composite narrative of AAP as institutionally hostile to Sikh sentiment — a charge that, if it sticks, is electorally damaging in Punjab. AAP has yet to offer a detailed rebuttal, which, in the media cycle, amounts to ceding ground. What remains unaddressed is the original cause of the protest: what grievance prompted AAP workers to enter the gurdwara in the first place, and whether that context changes the moral calculus at all.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib that sparked the BJP-AAP row?
AAP protesters allegedly entered the premises of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi carrying placards, raising political slogans, and creating a commotion, according to Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon. Police arrived to restrain the protesters, after which AAP reportedly launched a counter-campaign against the police and gurdwara management.
What did the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee say?
The DSGMC stated that the protesters had violated the maryada — the established religious code of conduct — of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. This position aligned with BJP's account of the incident.
Did police enter the Darbar Hall of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib?
According to Kewal Singh Dhillon, police did not enter the Darbar Hall, the innermost sanctum where devotees remove their shoes and offer obeisance. Police action, he claimed, was confined to restraining those creating a disturbance in the outer premises.
What has BJP demanded from Kejriwal over the incident?
Dhillon directly asked Arvind Kejriwal to explain why AAP sent its workers into the gurdwara to raise slogans, calling it 'deeply unfortunate' that the shrine — which serves langar to thousands daily — was turned into a political battleground.
How does this fit into the broader BJP-AAP rivalry over Sikh institutions?
Dhillon alleged that AAP had previously clashed with Sri Akal Takht Sahib and is now attempting to malign gurdwaras, framing the Bangla Sahib incident as part of a pattern. The charge carries particular weight in Punjab, where AAP governs and Sikh religious institutions hold significant political influence.
