Sirsa Alleges Blasphemy at Kartarpur Sahib, PMU Refutes

On 19 Nov, BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that a party was organized at the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara premises where invitees danced and consumed liquor and meat. In his tweet, Sirsa said, ‘We had objected to the appointment of a non-Sikh person as CEO of Project Management Unit (PMU) Kartarpur Corridor in 2021. Since the management board has no knowledge of Sikh Maryada (Code of conduct); we were afraid that there might be blasphemous actions at Gurdwara complex. Our fear has come true when a video of CEO Sayed Abu Bakar Qureshi drinking alcohol and eating meat at Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara complex went viral.’ On 20 Nov, two PMU officials refuted the allegation. They said no dance took place at the dinner held on 18 Nov and the viral video ‘must have been doctored for propaganda purposes.’ The officials clarified that the dinner for stakeholders for the development of Phase II of the Kartarpur project was held about 2 km from the Gurudwara in the PMU complex. The Lucknow Gurdwara management committee has sought the Indian PM’s intervention to ensure ‘holy places are duly protected.’ The controversy points to the role of management and corporate funding in religious affairs. We must note Sirsa is currently under flak for allegedly misusing Delhi Gurdwara treasuries (SDW Vol 1: Issue 2, Story 2). On 21 Nov, former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Paramjit Singh Sarna met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and urged him to pronounce tankhah (religious punishment) on Sirsa and demanded a probe by the Enforcement Directorate.