Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal pays his respects at Akal Takht in the Golden Temple in Amritsar yesterday.
IANS
Amritsar
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal yesterday paid obeisance at the Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple, in Amritsar and said “no one could live in peace after insulting holy scriptures.”
He said he prayed for the “return of peace” in Punjab, which is witnessing protests in some parts over the desecration of the Sikhs’ holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib.
“I also appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace,” the Aam Aadmi Party chief said.
Kejriwal was visiting Punjab to meet families of two men killed in police firing while protesting against the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in Faridkot district.
Terming the desecration of the holy book as “painful”, the chief minister told reporters that it was a “wilful act” to disturb peace in Punjab.
He condemned the police action, saying it was wrong to use force against people who were protesting peacefully against acts of sacrilege.
He said it was the responsibility of the Punjab government to arrest the real culprits behind the incidents of desecration, saying no innocent person should be slapped with “false cases”.
“Golden Temple has great spiritual power and I prayed before the almighty for early peace and normalcy to get rid of current turmoil in Punjab,” he said.
He also paid obeisance in front of the Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat.
Kejriwal was honoured with a Siropa (robe of honour) and presented with a set of Sikh religious books.
Later, he visited Kotkapura to meet the families of the two people killed in police firing.
Police have so far arrested six people, mostly working in Sikh shrines, in connection with the sacrilege.
