Vadodara:

A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered here against unidentified persons for giving death threats to a city-based fashion designer who is facing a criminal case after performing yoga at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar on June 21.

Releasing a fresh video statement, designer and social media influencer Archana Makwana also said she had done nothing wrong and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) should withdraw its complaint against her for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Based on her complaint about threats, an FIR under Indian Penal Code Section 507 (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication) was registered at Karelibaug police station on Wednesday night, an official said.

As the police categorised it as ‘sensitive’, the FIR could not be accessed by the general public on the state home department’s website.

“She claimed that unknown persons gave her death threats through email, WhatsApp, and Instagram after photos showing her doing’shirsasan’ (head-stand) at Golden Temple went viral. No suspect has been named in the FIR,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Panna Momaya.

Makwana visited the Golden Temple on June 21, the International Day of Yoga, and performed yoga on its ‘parikrama’ path. The photos of her act soon went viral.

Two days later, the SGPC filed a complaint against her for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, and an FIR was registered against her under relevant sections by Punjab Police.

Makwana then apologised through a video, saying she never intended to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments.

On June 24, Vadodara police provided her protection as she started receiving death threats.

In her latest video released on social media platforms, Makwana asked the SGPC to withdraw the complaint against her.

“Thousands of Sikh devotees were there when I performed yoga. Even the person who clicked my photos was a Sikh, and the Sevadars (office-bearers) of the temple did not stop him. The feelings of those who were present there and watched me do yoga did not get hurt. So I believe that I have not done anything wrong,” she said in the video.

The trouble started when some people outside India made her photos viral, saying that the people’s sentiments were hurt by her act, Makwana said.

“My intention was not bad. The FIR filed against me by the SGPC is baseless. It was not written anywhere in the temple that such acts were not allowed. I went there for the first time. Had I been told, I would have deleted those photos right away. I want the SGPC to withdraw its FIR, or else I and my legal team are ready to fight this case,” she added.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Senior Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Badal today objected to the proposed auction of a model of Golden Temple gifted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it was a “sacred symbol of the gift and blessings of the Akal Purakh and the Guru Sahibs and auctioning it would be grossly disrespectful”.

“It would also hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community,” he added in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The model is part of the fifth e-auction of gifts received by PM Modi and started earlier this month. Also going under the hammer are replicas of the Sun Temple in Gujarat’s Modhera, the Vijay Stambh of Chittorgarh and a painting of a ghat of Varanasi. altogether 900 items will be auctioned, some of which have been displayed at the National Gallery of Modern Arts.

Declaring he was “deeply saddened” by the inclusion of the “sacred model of the Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib” he said it was presented to PM Modi by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
“This model was presented as a sacred symbol of the gift and blessings of the Akal Purakh and the Guru Sahibs… My humble request to the Prime Minister to stop this auction immediately. If the government feels unable to handle this sacred and priceless gift, then I request that this sacred symbol be kindly handed back to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee,” his post read.

The Prime Minister had announced the exhibition on X, saying the objects on display are a “testament to the rich culture, tradition and artistic heritage of India”.

“Starting today, an exhibition at NGMA will display a wide range of gifts and mementoes given to me over the recent past. Presented to me during various programmes and events across India, they are a testament to the rich culture, tradition and artistic heritage of India,” he had posted on October 2.

Amritsar:

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visited the Golden Temple in Punjab’s Amritsar today.

 After offering prayers at the Golden Temple, Rahul Gandhi also took part in ‘kar sewa’. He was seen washing the dishes along with other party members and Gurudwara volunteers.

“He will spend the night in the city,” a Congress official said.

“This is his personal, spiritual visit, let’s respect his privacy. Request all party workers to not be physically present for this visit. You all can show your support in spirit & meet him the next time,” Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Waring posted on X – formerly known as Twitter – earlier in the day.

Shri @RahulGandhi ji is coming to Amritsar Sahib to pay obeisance at Sachkhand Shri Harmandir Sahib. This is his personal, spiritual visit, let’s respect his privacy. Request all party workers to not be physically present for this visit. You all can show your support in spirit &…

— Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) October 2, 2023

Rahul Gandhi’s Amritsar visit comes amid tensions between Congress and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the arrest of MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira was arrested by the Punjab police last week for alleged involvement in drug smuggling and money laundering.

The Congress leader has accused the AAP and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of being “thirsty for blood”. “I will not be surprised if he gets me physically eliminated also,” he declared.

The AAP government has claimed “fresh evidence” – in a 2015 case – led to Mr Khaira’s arrest.

The AAP and the Congress’ national leadership may be pulling for the INDIA bloc but Mr Khaira’s arrest has thrown open regional rivalries that could make it difficult for the two to work together,