The guard in the middle of the row said he rejected access to the girl because she was wearing a skirt and had her legs exposed a day after a video showing a female being denied entry into the Golden Temple due to a Tricolour painted on her face surfaced online.
Since even the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) stated in its remarks on Monday that the flag on the woman's face was not our national banner because it lacked the Ashoka Chakra, the question of "Maryada" or decorum is brand-new. A political flag might have been flying there.
She was dressed in a skirt. The Golden Temple employee who denied entry to a girl because she had the Tricolour painted on her face stated, "I warned her about'maryada' (decorum) and ordered her to cover her body.
Legs must be entirely covered. Everyone is welcome in Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple), but they must respect the location's etiquette, according to a video by Sabjit Singh.
After a video of him sparked debate on social media, Sabjit clarified. He is heard telling the girl, "It's Punjab, not India," in the video.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the organization overseeing Sikh shrines in India, also offered an apology in addition to the staff member's clarification.
Gurcharan Singh Grewal, the SGPC's general secretary, responded to the controversy by stating that there was no discrimination against devotees and that anyone from any location, caste, or religion was welcome to offer homage.
"The employee was incensed. I apologize on behalf of the SGPC as general secretary for the devotee's misbehavior. Trolls on social media, however, had dishonorable intentions, according to Grewal.
"This is a shrine for Sikhs. Each place of worship has its own etiquette...Everyone is welcome here.If an official misbehaved, we apologize. She wore a flag, but it was not our national flag because it lacked the Ashoka Chakra. According to Grewal, it might have been a political flag.
The "Punjab, not India remark" scandal drew a harsh response from top BJP politician Manjinder Singh Sirsa, while the SGPC leadership remained silent. "Behaviour of Sewadar (staffer) with a devotee wasn't appropriate," the BJP leader remarked.
If she had done something unacceptable, Sewadar ought to have handled it diplomatically. His remark was strongly condemned. The SGPC should train the personnel who assist guests, he continued.
For the Beating Retreat event, many visitors to the Attari-Wagah border get their faces painted with tricolour before going to the Golden Temple. This might be one of them.
