Amritsar: The controversy over a Muslim youth rinsing his mouth in the holy sarovar at the Golden Temple in Amritsar has intensified, with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) deciding to seek registration of an FIR against him, officials said.
SGPC legal adviser Amanbir Singh Siyali confirmed that a police complaint would be filed shortly. He said a preliminary inquiry by the SGPC suggested that the youth had entered the Golden Temple complex with an intent amounting to sacrilege. According to the committee, the youth remained inside the complex for nearly 20 minutes but did not pay obeisance at the sanctum.
The decision comes amid criticism of the SGPC for not initiating legal action earlier. Comparisons were drawn with previous cases, including that of a woman from Gujarat booked for performing yoga at the Golden Temple, raising questions over selective action.
The issue also reached Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, where Nihang Sikhs submitted a complaint to the police, alleging that the act hurt Sikh religious sentiments. The complainants said they had approached the police to ensure the matter was handled within the framework of law, warning that they possessed complete details of the youth if corrective steps were not taken. Ghaziabad police have initiated a preliminary inquiry.
The youth has been identified as Subhan Rangrez, a resident of Delhi. Police said he would be questioned as part of the probe.
The controversy erupted after a video surfaced on social media showing the youth rinsing his mouth in the holy sarovar. The clip was uploaded with the caption “Muslim Sher”. Following the backlash, the youth issued apologies twice, but Sikh organisations said the manner of apology was inadequate.
SGPC chief secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan had earlier taken strong objection to the video and ordered a verification of its authenticity. He said if the video was found to be original, the role of sewadars on duty at the time would also be examined.
The SGPC has already imposed a ban on making reels or videos inside the Golden Temple complex, citing religious sensitivities. Sewadars have been deployed to ensure that no objectionable content is recorded within the premises.
