The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has denied entry to a girl who had painted the Indian tricolour on her face, citing violation of Sikh tenets. The incident occurred at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Sunday.
The girl, identified as Navdeep Kaur, had visited the temple with her family. She had painted the tricolour on her face to show her patriotism towards the country. However, she was stopped at the entrance by SGPC officials.
The SGPC officials explained that the use of the Indian tricolour was against the Sikh code of conduct, which requires visitors to cover their heads and not carry any religious or political symbols. The SGPC also clarified that they have no problem with the girl’s patriotism but cannot allow her inside the shrine with the painted flag on her face.
Navdeep Kaur and her family were disappointed by the decision and felt humiliated. Her father, Baldev Singh, said that his daughter had only intended to express her love for the country and did not mean to hurt anyone’s sentiments.
The incident has sparked a debate on social media, with many users supporting Navdeep Kaur’s right to express her patriotism. However, others have argued that the SGPC was justified in denying her entry as the use of the tricolour violates the Sikh code of conduct.
Meanwhile, the SGPC has stated that they are open to discussing the matter with Navdeep Kaur and her family. They have also urged all visitors to adhere to the Sikh code of conduct while visiting the shrine.
The incident comes at a time when tensions between the Indian government and Sikh groups have been high over the controversial farm laws. Many Sikh groups have been protesting against the laws, which they say will hurt the interests of farmers.
