New Delhi: In a shocking incident, a young Sikh girl was denied entry to the Golden Temple in Amritsar for painting her face in India national colours. “This is Punjab, India,” she was told.

A short video clip of the incident has gone viral on social media platforms, drawing sharp criticism from many prominent Sikh leaders.

In the viral video, a man – apparently accompanying the Sikh girl – asks the turban-sporting staff member as to why she was not being allowed to enter the holy temple, which was once the centre of Sikh insurgency.

In response, the staffer, in his 30s, said, “This is not India, this is Punjab” – echoing the views of separatist Khalistani elements.

The incident has sparked outrage among the Sikh community, with many condemning the behaviour of the man who is on the payroll of the apex gurudwara body the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

BJP leader and former Delhi SGPC official Manjinder Singh Sirsa condemned the temple staffer’s behaviour as inappropriate.

“The behaviour of the Sewadar with a devotee isn’t appropriate. Even if there was something objectionable on her part, Sewadar could have handled it in a polite way. His comment (This is not India) is also highly condemnable,” Sira tweeted.

He also called for proper training for the SGPC staffers “exposed to visitors”.

The incident raises concerns about the penetration of radical Sikh elements in the Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib in wake of Punjab Police’s widespread crackdown on Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh’s supporters as he continues to evade arrest.

Notably, the revered temple – which is frequented by Sikhs and Hindus alike – was turned into a fortress by slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale during the Sikh militancy in the 90s, eventually leading to Operation Blue Star in 1984.

According to historical accounts, Bhindranwale had started camping at the Golden Temple to evade arrest and had deployed dozens of gunmen on its ramparts.

The incident could also ring alarm bells among security agencies in New Delhi at a time when the SGPC is pressuring the Punjab government to release “innocent Sikh youths” arrested during a police crackdown on Amritpal and his outfit Waris Punjab De.

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