The Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib, is a spiritual and cultural icon of Sikhism. It is also one of the most visited tourist attractions in India. Located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, the Golden Temple is a place of worship, reflection, and community for Sikhs and other people.
However, in recent days, our beloved Golden Temple has come into the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
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The Punjabi pride has become the center of huge controversy for a few days. It all started when a woman tried to enter the Golden Temple. However, surprisingly, she was refused entry due to the Indian flag painted on her face. The video of one guard has also gone viral in which he kept saying that this is not India but a Sikh Shrine.
Videos related to the incident have gone viral on social media platforms, with many netizens demanding clarification from the authorities and the government.
As the controversy intensified, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has drawn intense criticism. They were also forced to give an explanation regarding the occurrence. The event also led to the build-up of a narrative against Sikhs and Punjab.
Now, the recent development has happened in the controversy. The viral tricolor face girl and her father issued a public apology for their actions. They also pleaded for peace.
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Shocking: “It’s Punjab, not India, you can not enter Gurudwara with Indian flag”
A Girl was denied entry into Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar as she had indian flag painted on her face. She was harassed by SGPC employee & forbidden from entering Gurudwara premises. #amritsar pic.twitter.com/qwfx8ZQgJa— PunFact (@pun_fact) April 16, 2023
Amid criticism, Tricolour face girl apologizes for her behavior at Golden Temple
The Tricolor face girl and her father apologized in front of everyone for what they had done and made a peace appeal. Three days after the controversy, they made this statement when chatting at their home in Ambala’s Naraingarh neighborhood.
A video of the event and the subsequent dialogue between the two people and a sewadar was also captured. It has since gained popularity on social media and has drawn criticism from different parts of the country. Speaking to the news outlet, the girl apologized and stated,
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have apologised to us already and I feel hurt when such elderly people do so…. I’m sorry for the bad words and the wrong act.
The woman said she recorded the video and published it on WhatsApp because she was upset following her disagreement with the guard on April 15. However, she added that she never imagined it would become popular.
Fragmented clips are being shared of the girl harassed at Golden Temple for having Tiranga.
Here is another perceptive pic.twitter.com/EBEX3mlIt0— Woke Janta (@WokeJanta) April 19, 2023
According to her father, they went to the Golden Temple after visiting the Wagah Border in Amritsar
He added,
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The video got leaked mistakenly from my daughter, but we were not in favour for sharing it with anyone. Following the incident, the committee members attended us respectfully. I appeal everyone to end this here. I apologise to the sewadar, the committee and everyone for my daughter’s mistake.
Both, however, declined to discuss the specifics of why she was denied entry. He also categorically denied other theories that were put out, such as the girl’s dress or the possession of tobacco. Speaking about these theories, her father said,
There was nothing in connection with tobacco and neither I was frisked. Rather, they showed us different tobacco products, explaining how devotees carry them and they are removed.
For the sake of racial unity and fraternity, he also urged social media users to put a stop to the problem.
Listen the reality of the whole matter from the girl’s father
While it’s not about the dress code, nor the tobacco
Before it is presented as a separate issue tomorrow, if you are not aware now, when will it be?#Punjab #Amritsar #SGPC #GoldenTemple #IndianFlag https://t.co/2ihiGWnnj5 pic.twitter.com/LgGrAuHYbm
— #जयश्रीराधे 🚩🙏 (@gayatrigkhurana) April 18, 2023
On Monday, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami also criticized the online narrative being spread against Sikhs. He also urged followers to observe the Maryada (code of conduct). Still, the controversy is gaining traction on social media.
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What do you think about this controversy?
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