'Dance party, alcohol and meat': BJP leader Sirsa says blasphemous acts performed on Kartarpur Sahib premises

BJP leader and former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjinder Singh Sirsa has accused the Kartarpur Gurdwara administration of desecrating the shrine by organising a dance party on the Kartarpur Sahib complex and called on the Pakistan government to take "strict action" against the culprits.

Speaking to ANI news agency, Sirsa said, "The PMU Kartarpur Corridor committee in Narowal including the local Deputy Commissioner and DSP of Kartarpur Gurdwara administration organised a dance party, consumed alcohol and meat...Strict action should be taken against them. I condemn this act strongly and appeal to the Pakistan government to register a case against them and put them behind bars..."

Videos of the alleged party organised by Sayed Abu Bakar Qureshi, CEO of Project Management Unit, Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, on the Gurdwara Shri Darbar Sahib complex on 18 November have also surfaced on social media.

"Profound dismay as Sayed Abu Bakar Qureshi, CEO PMU Kartarpur Corridor, organizes a non-vegetarian party in Gurdwara Shri Darbar Sahib complex which was attended by 80 people including Mohammad Sharukh, Deputy Commissioner Narowal, District Police Officer Narowal also. Sikh community worldwide feels betrayed by this disrespect to the sacred site where Guru Nanak Dev ji took his last breath. I demand swift accountability and action from @GovtofPakistan in this regard," Sirsa posted on X earlier.

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In another post, Sirsa said that this is not the first time blasphemous actions have happened at Sri Kartarpur Sahib.

"This is not the first time blasphemous actions have happened at Sri Kartarpur Sahib… such derogatory things have happened time & again but @GovtofPakistan didn’t take any action against the Board for making Sri Kartarpur Sahib a picnic spot! Pak Govt should & some respect to Sikh sentiments and dissolve the anti-Sikh PMU of Sri Kartarpur Sahib," he wrote.

He said the Sikhs had objected to the appointment of a non-Sikh person as CEO of PMU Kartarpur Corridor in 2021 as they feared blasphemous acts might be performed at the Gurdwara complex.

"We had objected to the appointment of a non-Sikh person as CEO of PMU Kartarpur Corridor in 2021. Since the management board has no knowledge of Sikh Maryada; we were afraid that there might be blasphemous actions at Gurdwara complex. Our fear has come true when video of CEO Sayed Abu Bakar Qureshi drinking alcohol and eating meat at Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara complex went viral yesterday!!" he said.

"We demand immediate dissolution of this PMU headed by Muslims whose actions have hurt the sentiments of Sikhs worldwide. @GovtofPakistan should hand over the mangt of Gurdwara Sahib to a Sikh body that adheres to Sikhi ethos and principles," Sirsa added.

Reacting to the development, SGPC spokesperson Gurcharan Singh Grewal said that the entire Sikh community condemns this shameful incident.

"Pakistan government should take action in this matter. I request the Jathedar of Akal Takht Kartarpur Sahib to clear their stand on this," he added.