VADODARA: Archana Makwana, a Vadodara-based fashion designer who was arrested for “hurting religious sentiments” by doing yoga at the Golden Temple in Punjab’s Amritsar, on Monday filed a police complaint against unidentified persons for allegedly making rape and death threats. In her police complaint, Makwana also said that she started receiving threats online and over her mobile phone after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages the Golden Temple, made a statement against her yoga poses. She filed the complaint at a police station here.
The designer landed in trouble after she performed yoga on the Golden Temple premises on International Yoga Day and posted the pictures on her Instagram account. Her pictures performing Sirshasana went viral on social media, leading the SGPC to file an FIR against Makwana on June 22 for “hurting religious sentiments”. “My phone has not stopped ringing since then. I am constantly getting calls and messages from unknown people threatening to kill me. Hence, I have filed a police complaint. I hope that the police will file an FIR based on my complaint,” Makwana told TOI.
“The SGPC has alleged that I went to the temple only for a photoshoot on International Yoga Day (June 21), which is not true. I visited the Golden Temple on June 20, performed sewa (prayer) and also donated Rs 2,100. The purpose of performing yoga was to spread a message of unity and health but it has taken on a political overtone,” Makwana said.
In her complaint, she said that she was summoned by the Punjab Police but was scared to go there as her life was in danger. “I wanted to file an FIR against the SGPC as my life is in danger due to their statements but the police here told me that I have to go to Punjab to file a complaint against the SGPC,” she added.
Commenting on the incident, Vadodara Superintendent of Police Narasimha Komal said, “We will thoroughly consider Makwana’s complaint and investigate the incident before considering leasing an FIR. Makwana has already been provided security as he felt threatened.”
The designer landed in trouble after she performed yoga on the Golden Temple premises on International Yoga Day and posted the pictures on her Instagram account. Her pictures performing Sirshasana went viral on social media, leading the SGPC to file an FIR against Makwana on June 22 for “hurting religious sentiments”. “My phone has not stopped ringing since then. I am constantly getting calls and messages from unknown people threatening to kill me. Hence, I have filed a police complaint. I hope that the police will file an FIR based on my complaint,” Makwana told TOI.
“The SGPC has alleged that I went to the temple only for a photoshoot on International Yoga Day (June 21), which is not true. I visited the Golden Temple on June 20, performed sewa (prayer) and also donated Rs 2,100. The purpose of performing yoga was to spread a message of unity and health but it has taken on a political overtone,” Makwana said.
In her complaint, she said that she was summoned by the Punjab Police but was scared to go there as her life was in danger. “I wanted to file an FIR against the SGPC as my life is in danger due to their statements but the police here told me that I have to go to Punjab to file a complaint against the SGPC,” she added.
Commenting on the incident, Vadodara Superintendent of Police Narasimha Komal said, “We will thoroughly consider Makwana’s complaint and investigate the incident before considering leasing an FIR. Makwana has already been provided security as he felt threatened.”
