CM Bhagwant Mann Slams Delhi Police Over Bangla Sahib Gurdwara Incident, Says Sikh Community Will Not Forgive BJP

October 11, 2026

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday strongly condemned the alleged entry of Delhi Police personnel into Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib in the national capital during the crackdown on protesters opposing Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Mann accused the BJP-led police administration of violating the sanctity of the Sikh shrine and said the Sikh community would not forgive the BJP over the incident.

In a post on X, Mann alleged that police personnel entered the gurdwara with their heads uncovered and shoes on, disregarding the religious traditions observed at Sikh places of worship.

“I strongly condemn in the harshest terms the BJP’s police forcibly entering Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib in Delhi yesterday,” Mann said, adding that gurdwaras have historically kept their doors open to provide shelter to people in need.

ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਵਿੱਖੇ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਬੰਗਲਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਬੀਜੇਪੀ ਦੀ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਜਬਰਨ ਦਾਖਲ ਹੋਣ ਦੀ ਸਖ਼ਤ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ… ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਗਵਾਹ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਤਾਂ ਜ਼ਰੂਰਤਮੰਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਰਨ ਦੇਣ ਲਈ ਆਪਣੇ ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ੇ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੇ ਰੱਖਦੇ ਨੇ…ਜੇ ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਪ੍ਰੋਟੈਸਟ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਇਸ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਓਥੇ ਦਾਖਲ ਹੋ ਗਏ ਤਾਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਦਾ ਸਿਧਾਂਤ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸੇਵਾਦਾਰ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਰਨ ਦੇਣ…

ਤਾਲਿਬਾਨੀ ਰਵੱਈਏ ਵਾਲੀ ਬੀਜੇਪੀ ਦੀ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਨੰਗੇ ਸਿਰ ਤੇ ਪੈਰਾਂ ‘ਚ ਬੂਟ ਪਾ ਕੇ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਾਖਲ ਹੋਈ ਤੇ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਦੀ ਮਰਿਯਾਦਾ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਲਿਆ ਗਿਆ… ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਮ ਇਸ ਸ਼ਰਮਨਾਕ ਹਰਕਤ ਲਈ ਬੀਜੇਪੀ ਨੂੰ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਮੁਆਫ਼ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰੇਗੀ…

— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) October 11, 2026

He said that if young people protesting against the Election Commission had entered the gurdwara seeking refuge, the tradition of the Guru’s house was to offer them shelter.

Mann also criticised the alleged conduct of the police personnel, describing their approach as “Taliban-like”. He said the incident had violated the dignity of the religious institution and asserted that the Sikh community would not forgive the BJP for what he called a shameful act.

Why Did the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara Incident Trigger a Row?

The controversy erupted on Saturday, October 10, when protesters gathered in and around Gurdwara Bangla Sahib after facing restrictions and police action during the planned demonstration against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) had called for a protest demanding the CEC’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. With security tightened across Delhi and permission for the proposed demonstration denied, several protesters reportedly took shelter inside the gurdwara.

Videos circulated on social media purportedly showing police personnel walking within the gurdwara premises while wearing shoes. The footage triggered criticism and questions about whether the religious traditions of the shrine had been respected during the police operation.

Delhi Police Calls Viral Video Misleading, Cites Common Passage

Responding to the controversy, Delhi Police said the video was being circulated with what it described as malicious intent.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma said the personnel seen in the footage were walking through a common passage used by devotees to reach the point where they remove their shoes before entering the gurdwara.

Police said the passage was used by devotees as part of the regular entry process and alleged that the video was being circulated to outrage the feelings of the Sikh community and disturb religious harmony. The police also said legal action was being initiated over the circulation of the footage.

The police clarification came amid growing political criticism over the handling of protesters who had gathered at the shrine after being unable to reach the planned protest venue.

Gurdwara Management Committee Also Raises Concerns

The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) also weighed in on the controversy. Its president, Harmeet Singh Kalka, criticised protesters for allegedly entering the gurdwara with placards and raising slogans, saying places of worship should not be turned into venues for political demonstrations.

Kalka said gurdwara staff had stopped protesters from forcing their way into a hall. He also questioned the criticism of police intervention, arguing that officers had acted after demonstrators entered the premises.

At the same time, Kalka said the sight of uniformed police personnel walking through the gurdwara grounds had hurt Sikh sentiments.

The incident has sparked a wider debate over the handling of protesters seeking shelter at religious institutions, the sanctity of places of worship and the responsibilities of police during public demonstrations.