A controversy has erupted after a video surfaced showing American police officers entering a Gurdwara in Philadelphia while wearing shoes during an internal dispute over the Golakh (donation box).
The incident has triggered strong reactions from Sikh organizations in Punjab and members of the Sikh community worldwide, who called it a serious violation of Sikh religious decorum and sentiments.
Dispute Over Donation Box Led to Police Call
According to reports, the incident took place on May 19 at a Gurdwara in Philadelphia, where a disagreement broke out between two groups during the counting of donation money.
The argument reportedly escalated, following which someone called the police. Officers then entered the Gurdwara premises to control the situation.
A video of the incident later went viral on social media. In the footage, police officers can allegedly be seen standing near the sacred place where the Sri Guru Granth Sahib was present, while wearing shoes. One officer was also seen without a head covering, while another wore a cap.
Sikh Organizations Express Anger
The video sparked outrage among Sikh bodies in Punjab, who termed the incident deeply hurtful to Sikh sentiments.
Some members of the Sikh community in the US argued that police shoes are considered part of the official uniform and officers are generally not permitted to remove them while on duty.
SGPC Demands Investigation
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has demanded that Sri Akal Takht Sahib investigate the matter and identify those responsible for creating such circumstances inside the Gurdwara.
SGPC member Gurcharan Singh Grewal said the incident was “deeply saddening and concerning” and added that the dignity and maryada (religious code of conduct) of the Gurdwara should always be maintained.
Manjit Singh GK Condemns Incident
Manjit Singh GK, former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, also condemned the incident and questioned how the situation was allowed to escalate to the point where police had to enter the Gurdwara.
He said disputes over the Golakh are unfortunate and added that seeing police standing near Sri Guru Granth Sahib with shoes on had deeply disturbed the Sikh community.
No Official Response Yet
So far, neither the Gurdwara management committee nor the US police department involved has issued an official statement regarding the incident.
The matter continues to draw strong reactions online, with many Sikhs calling for greater responsibility and discipline within Gurdwara management committees to prevent such incidents in the future.