“Some media reports are spreading AD (air defense) guns in the Golden Temple. It was clarified that there were no AD guns or any other advertising resources deployed in the Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar (Golden Temple) premises,” an Army statement said.
Earlier, the reports were dismissed, and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), an additional bishop of the shrine and Sikh Apex religious body, said that no air defense guns were allowed in the Indian army.
Also Read: SGPC Golden Temple Pastor Says No Allowed to Deploy Air Defense Guns
SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami also said that although the government contacted them only in the event of power outages after tensions between India and Pakistan escalated, they cooperated completely as an administrative responsibility while maintaining the ongoing protection of “Maryada” (behavior).
Dami said no Army official had any contact on installing an anti-aircraft gun in Sri Harmandar Sahib. Granthi, head of Harmandar Sahib, Giani Raghbir Singh, also clarified that although he was visiting abroad during Operation Sindoor, there were no such incidents with him in contact with him regarding any gun deployments, nor did any such incidents occur in Golden Temple. The additional primary priest of Golden Temple Amarjeet Singh said it was incorrect to allow troops to deploy air defense guns within the shrine to deal with potential drone and missile threats in Pakistan.
Singh said the claim was shocking and rejected it altogether.
He asserted that guns were never allowed to be installed.
He clarified that Harmandar Sahib’s management was working with the regional government to close the appearance and glazing of the complex within a designated time frame, in partnership with regional government guidelines on city-wide power outages.
But the lights in places where religious codes of conduct are observed remain and the sacredness of religious places is full of responsibility.
Singh reiterated that the daily religious practices of Golden Temple, the Langar of Guru ramdas Ji, the place of Sri Akhand path Sahib and other related Gurdwaras were carried out under strict agreements and no one has the right to intervene with them.
He said that despite the tension in recent days, a comprehensive code of religious conduct continues to dedicate and discipline in Harmandar Sahib.
Singh also made it clear that even during the power outage, no lights were observed in any religious places of “Mariada”.
SGPC head Dhami said that according to consultations with Singh, only the external lights were turned off after the regional government guidelines.
He noted that even during the outage, a large number of devotees continued to visit and perform “sewa” (volunteering), and if there were any incidents like gun deployment, Sangat (congregation) would definitely notice and see it.
Dhami acknowledged the important role played by the military and the state in a tense situation, but stressed that “the shocking unreality of the false nature of the Sikh religious site in the days after the incident”.
He also asked the government for clarification.
