India, Aug. 18 -- Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami has condemned the denial of entry to an "Amritdhari" Sikh sarpanch from a village near Nabha at the Red Fort on Independence Day, despite being specially invited to the event.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Dhami called the refusal to allow Gurdhian Singh entry because of his "kirpan" a reflection of an "anti-Sikh mentality". He emphasised that preventing a Sikh from participating in a national event due to their religious symbol is an affront to the Sikh community and an act of treating them as outsiders in their own country.

Dhami further criticised the ongoing discrimination against Sikhs, noting their immense sacrifices for India's fre...