Punjab: Arvind Kejriwal visits Golden Temple, calls acts of sacrilege 'painful'

During his visit to the "Golden Temple" in Punjab to pay obeisance, Chief Minister of New Delhi Arvind Kejriwal said that no one can have a peaceful life after insulting holy scriptures.

Kejriwal was visiting the state to meet the families of the two youths who were killed in police firing on protestors who were angry at the sacrilege of Sikhs' holy book "Guru Granth Sahib" in Faridkot district.

The police have so far arrested six people, mostly working in Sikh shrines, in connection with the killings. They have alleged a "foreign hand" behind the sacrilege even as the Centre has sought a report from the Punjab government on the matter.

Stating that he prayed for the "return of peace" in the state, which is still witnessing protests in some parts over the desecration of the "Guru Granth Sahib", Kejriwal said, "I also appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace."

Terming the desecration of the holy book as "painful", the chief minister told reporters that it was a "wilful act" to disturb peace in Punjab.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader condemned the police action, saying it was wrong to use force against people who were protesting peacefully against acts of sacrilege.

He said it was the responsibility of the Punjab government to arrest the real culprits behind the incidents of desecration, saying no innocent person should be slapped with "false cases".

"Golden Temple has great spiritual power and I prayed before the almighty for early peace and normalcy to get rid of current turmoil in Punjab," Kejriwal added.

Having paid obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple, he also paid obeisance in front of the Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat.

Kejriwal was honoured with a Siropa (robe of honour) and presented with a set of Sikh religious books.

The chief minister's visit to Punjab assumes significance as the AAP is eying the 2017 assembly polls and has re-structured its unit in the state. The AAP won four seats in the 2014 Lok Sabaha elections. It recently suspended two of its MPs for "anti-party" activities.