SGPC rejects Army's claim of Pak attempt to attack Golden Temple

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Monday disapproved of an Army officer’s statement that Pakistan had targeted the Golden Temple with drones and missiles, which were shot down by Indian forces.

The statement was made by Major General Kartik C Seshadri, General Officer Commanding, 15 Infantry Division, in an interview to a media outlet here.

Pakistan had launched a wave of drone and missile attacks after India struck at nine terrorist sites in the neighbouring country in response to the brutal Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that had claimed 26 lives.

Both countries had announced a ceasefire on May 10 after three days of hostilities, in which India had neutralised swarms of drones and missiles fired from across the border.

Hours after the Army officer made the remarks, SGPC chief secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan said he “didn’t believe the version” as no force “could think of attacking” the shrine, to which he referred to as the abode of Guru Ram Das.

“Agencies have their own way of thinking, about which I can’t say anything. There is no dip in the flow of sangat (at the shrine)” he added.

Meanwhile, responding to the news, Punjab Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said Pakistani soldiers “showed a negative mindset as they tried to attack a universally acclaimed religious place”.

Amritsar MP Gurjit Singh Aujla thanked the Indian Army for stopping the attacks by Pakistan on the Golden Temple.

He said on May 10, Sikhs had protested against Pakistan that they were deliberately targeting gurdwaras. He appreciated the Indian Army “for creating a secure cordon around Amritsar and keeping it completely safe”.

Earlier in the day, BJP leader Amit Malviya wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Indian Army’s confirmation of drone and missile attacks targeting the Golden temple is both shocking and deeply disturbing. It underscores the true intent of Pakistan’s military establishment and its proxies – to sow chaos and hurt the very soul of India.”