Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal published a statement on Sunday raising questions about the handling of protesters near Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi, before the post was withdrawn from public circulation before the end of the day. Harsimrat alleged that Delhi Police had failed to respect the gurdwara's sacred status and had treated women demonstrators poorly.
The social media post drew attention across party circles at a time when a potential SAD-BJP electoral tie-up was already being discussed ahead of the state assembly elections. Akali Dal Waris Punjab De — whose MP Amritpal Singh remains in custody — publicly asked whether the post had been taken down at the BJP's behest. The question of why the statement was retracted was put directly to Harsimrat, with no reference made to her religious background.
On Monday, Akali Dal Waris Punjab De posted on X calling on those in positions of authority to provide the Sikh Sangat with a transparent and thorough account of the events that had taken place.
Amritsar-based AAP legislator Manvinder Singh Giaspura contended that the sanctity of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib had been compromised, and said the absence of any response from Shiromani Akali Dal's leadership and SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami left questions unanswered.
The post attributed to Harsimrat Kaur Badal was removed, with the text — prior to its deletion — indicating that she had voiced opposition to Delhi Police personnel entering the grounds of Gurdwara Shri Bangla Sahib and to reported mistreatment of those gathered at the day's demonstration, including women. Reports indicated that women who had taken refuge at the gurdwara while protesting were physically handled, and that conduct within the premises drew condemnation.
Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney of the BJP posted on X on Sunday calling on Harsimrat to present evidence of police mistreatment of women within the compound. A separate post — which an X user stated they had viewed before its removal — had reportedly accumulated around 18,000 views, 324 likes, 109 reposts, 97 comments, and 10 bookmarks by the time it was taken down; the original post had also contained a demand that Delhi Police answer for its conduct.
In a written statement released on Sunday, BJP functionary and senior Supreme Court advocate H S Phoolka described as deeply regrettable what he characterised as a deliberate effort by SAD (Badal) leaders to circulate misleading information in coordination with AAP. Without identifying anyone by name, Phoolka added that those leaders had been fully aware of the actual facts yet chose to put forward a distorted account to the Sikh community.
At a press conference held at the Punjab BJP headquarters in Chandigarh on Monday, Phoolka put forward the claim that AAP had intentionally constructed a distorted version of events surrounding the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib incident. Those who challenged AAP's characterisation of the detentions pointed out that the individuals in question had moved into the forecourt area just past the gurdwara's entrance gate, where they displayed banners, led chants, and delivered remarks of a political nature. Phoolka also claimed that AAP supporters made up the bulk of those taking part in the protest.