The move comes a week after Canada's Sikh body banned Indian officials from entering the places of worship
A week after several gurdwaras in Canada’s Ontario banned Indian officials from entering, the Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast and American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in the United States have said that 96 gurdwaras in the country have banned the entry of Indian officials.
As per a Times of India report, the ban will apply to nagar kirtans, or religious processions, as well.
"Indian government officials and any person/s representing the interests of the Indian government, shall not be allowed to enter the US gurdwaras or to participate in any religious programmes," the resolution reads.
The Sikh bodies hold the Indian government responsible for the June 1984 military invasion of Golden Temple.
Earlier, 14 gurdwaras in Canada’s Ontario province have barred officials from the Indian government, consular officials and members of organisations ‘who seek to undermine the Sikh nation and Sikh institutions.’
This decision was made at a meeting held at the Jot Parkash Gurdwara in Brampton, a suburb of Toronto, on December 30.
“Pursuant to the Trespass to Property Act (1990), the management of this Gurdwara Sahib reserves the right to bar entry to officials of the Indian Government including but not limited to Indian elected officials, Indian Consular officials, and members of organisations who seek to undermine the Sikh nation and Sikh institutions”
The statement added: “Keeping in mind the interference of Indian Consular and Indian Government officials in the lives of Canadian Sikhs, Gurdwara Management Committees have jointly taken the decision to bar the entry of these officials and members from Gurdwaras across Canada.
On April 30 last year, Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau addressed a parade for 'Khalsa Day', which included floats glorifying Sikh militant leaders Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Amreek Singh and former General Shahbeg Singh who were killed in the siege of the Golden Temple and Operation Bluestar in June 1984.
The Indian Government had lodged a strong protest with Canada over the presence of Trudeau at the event.
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