The Impressive TimesNEW DELHI, 16 JUNE: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has strongly condemned Delhi’s BJP Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for making derogatory remarks about Sri Kartarpur Sahib during a campaign in Ludhiana. AAP MLA Jarnail Singh said her words have deeply hurt Sikh sentiments and demanded a public apology. He urged BJP Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa to educate CM Rekha Gupta on how to respectfully refer to Sikh gurdwaras and called on BJP’s Sikh leaders to ensure she apologizes for the insult. “The Sikh community is generous—but only if there is remorse,” Jarnail Singh said.
Jarnail Singh further urged all Sikh leaders within the BJP to compel CM Rekha Gupta to tender a formal apology. “The Sikh community has a large heart. If she apologizes sincerely, we will forgive her. But silence or defiance will only deepen the hurt,” he warned.
Senior AAP leader and MLA Jarnail Singh, along with senior AAP leader and MLA Punardeep Sawhney, held a press conference at the party headquarters on Monday and strongly condemned CM Rekha Gupta’s derogatory remarks about the holy Sikh shrine, Sri Kartarpur Sahib, during her election campaign in Ludhiana (West), Punjab. Displaying a video clip of Rekha Gupta’s speech, Jarnail Singh asserted that her manner of referring to Sri Kartarpur Sahib was deeply offensive to the Sikh community. “The language used by Rekha Gupta clearly reflects disrespect. Her words have caused immense hurt to the Sikh community and to all those who revere Guru Nanak Sahib,” he said.
Jarnail Singh highlighted the spiritual and historical significance of Sri Kartarpur Sahib, noting that it was the place where Sri Guru Nanak Sahib spent a large portion of his life. “Sri Guru Nanak Sahib personally farmed there, lived off his honest labour, meditated on the name of God, and spread the message of sharing and community service. This holy place holds a highly revered status in the hearts of Sikhs,” he stated.
The AAP MLA pointed out that even if Rekha Gupta were unaware of Sikh history or the importance of religious sites in Punjab, having lived in Delhi for so long, she should have known the appropriate way to refer to Sikh shrines. “In Delhi, every child knows that Sri Bangla Sahib is addressed as Sri Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Sri Sis Ganj Sahib as Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, and Sri Rakab Ganj Sahib as Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib,” he said.
Jarnail Singh emphasized that Rekha Gupta’s choice of words reflects her mindset and lack of reverence. “I will not repeat the words she used, as I am unable to bring myself to utter something so offensive,” he added.
Raising a pointed question to the BJP, Jarnail Singh asked, “The BJP has many Sikh leaders—has politics blinded them so much that they cannot even urge their leader to apologise?” He reiterated that the Sikh community is known for its large-heartedness and capacity to forgive. “If Rekha Gupta issues a sincere apology, the Sikh community will forgive her.”
Calling out Delhi Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Singh said, “Manjinder Singh Sirsa is always quick to amplify minor issues. Why is he silent now? Why is he not educating Rekha Gupta on the correct way to address gurdwaras and Sikh religious sites?”
He also noted Manjinder Singh Sirsa’s recent press confere
nce in Punjab where he urged people to vote for Congress, and remarked that politics aside, the Sikh community deserves an answer—why did Rekha Gupta disrespect their shrine, and why is she hesitating to apologise?
Jarnail Singh concluded with a direct appeal to all Sikh leaders in the BJP and to CM Rekha Gupta herself: “The language used by Rekha Gupta has deeply hurt the Sikh community. She must apologise and express regret for her words.”
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