Archana Makwana joins probe online over yoga in Golden Temple complex

Amritsar, July 10

A Vadodara-based social media influencer Archana Makwana, who had sparked a row by performing yoga in the Golden Temple complex on June 21, today joined the investigation. The Amritsar police had booked her for outraging the religious sentiments on the complaint of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Amritsar’s Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr Darpan Ahluwalia said, “Archana Makwana today submitted her statement online, which will be verified for further course of action.”

“We have received her statement through e-mail. The exact contents of her reply cannot be revealed as it is part of investigation,” she said.

Ahluwalia said the SGPC, too, had been conveyed about the development. “We have asked the SGPC to submit a supplementary statement over Makwana’s explanation. Thereafter, verification will be done. After hearing both sides, action will be taken accordingly,” she said.

Sources said Makwana, in her reply, had stated that her intent was not to hurt sentiments of the Sikhs and it happened out of ignorance.

Makwana was served a notice under Section 41-A of the CrPC on June 26 and was directed to join the probe on June 30, but she didn’t comply.

The social media influencer had claimed that when she practised ‘shirshasana’ in the parikrama on June 21, she was never stopped by anyone, including the SGPC’s task force.

She had also questioned that how could she, as a first-time visitor from Gujarat, be aware of the ‘code of conduct’ of the Golden Temple.

SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami had revealed that Makwana had submitted an apology letter to them and the Akal Takht secretariat, but her act was not pardonable, especially keeping in view her aggressive behaviour.

SGPC secretary Partap Singh said the issue pertained to religious misconduct and was referred to the Amritsar administration after objections were received from several devotees. The SGPC had also suspended two of its staffers and penalised third staff member, besides transferring him out of the city.