Cigarette wrapper used for the distribution of prasad in Kartarpur Gurudwara

A huge controversy has emerged since it was revealed that the management committee of Kartarpur Gurdwara Darbar Sahib has used cigarette wrappers as wrappers for wrapping and distributing Kadah Prasad to worshipers visiting the shrine in Pakistan’s Punjab province. This came to the fore when one of the devotees opened the packaging of the Prasad, only to find a label of the “Gold Street International” cigarette brand printed inside.

Social media is teeming with images of the pinni prasad package, which interestingly carries the photo of Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib, with “Blessings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji,” as well as an image of Gurdwara Jyoti Jyot Asthan, Sri Guru Nanak Dev, Kartarpur Sahib outside. While inside, there was an advertisement for a cigarette from the Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), the parent body of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC).

Photos of cigarettes are used in wrapping paper for the distribution of Prasad to devotees of Kartarpur & Nankana Sahib.
This is completely unacceptable and an insult to our religious values. It should be stopped immediately. @parbhandak look into the question @ rsrobin1 @vikramsahney pic.twitter.com/0rbEknELsF

– The Turbans Conversation (@turban_talk) December 17, 2021

Since the consumption of cigarettes and tobacco is considered a cardinal offense in Sikhism, members of the Sikh community have been outraged by the use of cigarette wrappers to wrap prasad in Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. .

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara management committee chairman and BJP chief Manjinder Singh Sirsa took to Twitter to condemn the incident, calling it a plot to damage the faith and harass minority Sikhs in Pakistan. “Sikh feelings repeatedly hurt Pak. This time Sangat gave Kadah Prashad in the cigarette wrapper pages to Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib. It smacks of conspiracy to hurt our faith and harass the minority Sikhs in Pak. Previously, they allowed models to be shot at the Gurdwara Sahib premises, ”Sirsa tweeted.

Sikh feelings hurt repeatedly in Pak
This time Sangat gave Kadah Prashad in cigarette wrapper pages to Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib. It smacks of conspiracy to hurt our faith and harass the minority Sikhs in Pak. Previously, they allowed models to be shot at the Gurdwara Sahib premises. pic.twitter.com/P1G1RXqs9Q

– Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) December 17, 2021

In his subsequent Tweet, the BJP chief shared the photo of the packaging and urged Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to take strict action against Gurdwara’s managing authority.

We will not accept such hurtful actions and will demand to @ImranKhanPTI Ji Strict Action Against Gurdwara Management Authority

Such actions embarrass Sikhs all over the world, especially when Sikhism is so against tobacco.@ANi @Republic @ZeeNews @TimesNow @thetribunechd @punjabkesari https://t.co/R4vhcxOOC0 pic.twitter.com/lu2WoS8ko0

– Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) December 17, 2021

Pakistan’s Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC), on the other hand, said in its defense that an investigation was carried out after the Kartarpur gurdwara incident was brought to their attention three days ago, during of which it was revealed to be the work of some anti-social elements who probably never wanted the Kartarpur Corridor to be opened, said PSGPC chief Ameer Singh.

“We have never used such packaging to distribute prasad to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. We have investigated the incident and on this basis we can say that it is due to some anti-social elements that do not want the Kartarpur Corridor to start, ”said PSGPC chief Ameer Singh. cited by the Hindi daily Livehindustan, as said.

Pakistani model’s “bare-headed” photos in Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara spark controversy

It can be noted that only last month, another controversy erupted after a Pakistani model took photos, with her “bare head”, in the premises of the shrine. The owner of an online clothing store named Mannat in Pakistan posted several photos of the model’s photoshoot on the social media account as an advertisement for the clothing brand.

It should be noted here that both men and women are required to cover their heads when visiting a Gurudwara.

The Sikh community criticized the advertisement and said the photos of the Pakistani model posing “bareheaded” with her back to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib hurt the feelings of the religious community.

The chairman of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara management committee, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, also demanded strict measures against those who behave badly in religious places of minorities in Pakistan. He said the model posing without covering her head inside Gurudwara premises amounted to a “beadbi” or a sacrilege.

A member of the team who posted the photos of the Pakistani model posted a video message after the controversy and apologized after the backlash. The model and the clothing brand also apologized.