AMRITSAR: The Sikh Legal Aid Association (SLA) is considering legal action against yoga strongman Archana Makwana, who is at the centre of a political furor over yoga at the Golden Temple, and her social media channels for stoking discord between Hindus and Sikhs. Comparing yoga with the Sikh martial art of Gatka, SLA member Neena Singh on Saturday asked whether Hindus would accept Sikhs performing Gatka at Hindu temples such as Jagannath Puri and Tirupati Balaji temple. “Something that is permissible in Hinduism may not be permissible in Sikhism and vice versa,” Singh said. The SLA is an international non-profit organisation. Neena said she had no problem with Gatka or yoga in itself, but the place where it is performed is wrong. Archana attracted media attention after she posted pictures of herself performing “sheer shassan” (handstand) and meditating in the prayer hall of the Golden Temple on June 21. The act was condemned by both the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Akal Takht. The SGPC subsequently filed a police complaint against Makwana. An investigation report under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code was later registered against her. Archana had initially apologised for her act but had recently asked the SGPC to either drop the charge or file a case against her. When asked about Makwana’s claim of innocence citing lack of knowledge about the Maryada (Sikh code of conduct) and its absence of a list of dos and don’ts at the temple, Neena said it was Archana’s responsibility to learn about the Sikh faith and follow the discipline of the gurdwara.
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