Alcohol, Meat Served At ‘Dance Party’ Inside Kartarpur Sahib Compound, Sikh Leaders Seek Strict Action

A controversial dance party allegedly took place at the revered Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, sparking outrage among the Sikh community. The event, which involved alcohol and meat consumption, has drawn condemnation from various Sikh leaders.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, a BJP leader, expressed concern about the appointment of a non-Sikh CEO for PMU Kartarpur Corridor in 2021. Sirsa cited a viral video showing the CEO, Sayed Abu Bakar Qureshi, consuming alcohol and meat at Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara. He called for the immediate dissolution of PMU and urged the Pakistani government to entrust Gurdwara Sahib management to a Sikh body respecting Sikh principles.

We We had objected to the appointment of a non-Sikh person as CEO of PMU Kartarpur Corridor in 2021. Since the management board has no knowledge of Sikh Maryada; we were afraid that there might be blasphemous actions at Gurdwara complex.
Our fear has come true when video of CEO… https://t.co/fCigv72ief pic.twitter.com/lMBeo90JKH

— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) November 20, 2023

Jagdip Singh Kahlon, the general secretary of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, strongly denounced the incident, emphasizing that serving meat and alcohol during celebrations contradicts Sikh tradition. He called on the Pakistani government to take swift action against the responsible individuals.

This incident echoes a similar controversy in 2021 when pictures of a Pakistani model with her head uncovered in the Gurdwara complex stirred backlash on social media. SGPC President Dhami highlighted the breach of ‘maryada’ and Sikh sensitivities if such events occur within the Kartarpur Sahib complex, a place closely connected to Guru Nanak Dev.

The incident has reignited concerns about the proper maintenance of sacred places and the strict adherence to Sikh ‘rehat maryada.’ Stakeholders stress the need for vigilance to prevent such breaches in the future.