CHANDIGARH- Aam Aadmi Party Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Singh Pannu has demanded Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation over the Delhi Police action at Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib, questioning how police personnel could enter the sacred premises wearing shoes and forcibly remove people. He said the detention of protesters and the manner raised serious questions about the government’s approach, while also questioning the silence of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
He urged the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib to take up the matter with the Union Home Ministry and demanded accountability from the BJP leadership over an incident he said had revived painful memories of Operation Blue Star.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu stated, “The manner in which protesters were detained in Delhi, with vehicles and metro services stopped to prevent people from reaching the protest, raises serious questions about the government’s approach. The scale of these detentions may well be remembered in the future as a ‘Detention Day’, much like the Emergency.”
Baltej Pannu emphasised, “The police action inside Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib is particularly disturbing because gurdwaras have traditionally provided shelter and langar to people, irrespective of their religion. What kind of emergency required the police to enter a gurdwara wearing shoes and forcibly remove people staying there? Who gave these instructions, and why was the sanctity of the gurdwara not respected?” He also condemned a Sikh youth’s clothes being torn during the police action.
Taking aim at the BJP, the AAP Punjab Media In-charge stated, “The BJP has repeatedly criticised the Congress over Operation Blue Star, when the Army entered Sri Harmandir Sahib complex and other religious places. What explanation will the BJP offer now for the Delhi Police action at Sri Bangla Sahib?”
Baltej Pannu also referred to former BJP leader L.K. Advani’s book My Country, My Life, stating that Advani had written about putting pressure on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi over Operation Blue Star.
Baltej Pannu questioned the silence of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal over the incident. He stated, “Sukhbir Singh Badal has softened his criticism of the BJP because he is hoping for a political understanding with the party. Earlier, he was saying that the BJP had captured the Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Haryana Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. Those claiming to represent the Panth must speak up on such a serious issue rather than remain silent.”
Appealing to the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Baltej Pannu urged him to immediately take up the matter with the Union Home Ministry and the Central Government. He sought answers on why police personnel entered Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib wearing shoes and how many people had been arrested or detained from the gurdwara.
The AAP Punjab Media In-charge stated that the incident had revived painful memories of Operation Blue Star, which the Sikh community had not forgotten. He challenged the BJP Punjab leadership to explain the police action and questioned what it would mean for Punjab if the BJP came to power in the state, as it was seeking to do in 2027.
Demanding accountability, Baltej Pannu asserted, “Union Home Minister Amit Shah must answer who authorised the police action inside Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib.” He reiterated the Aam Aadmi Party’s demand for the Union Home Minister’s resignation over the incident.