SGPC Yoga Row: Influencer Archana Makwana fights back as she faces legal battle after yoga controversy at Golden Temple

Vadodara-based fashion designer and influencer, Archana Makwana, has found herself embroiled in controversy after performing yoga at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The incident, which occurred on June 21, has sparked a heated debate, resulting in an FIR being filed against her by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

In an Instagram post, Makwana expressed her bewilderment over the backlash. She argued that those who witnessed her yoga performance in person were not offended, and questioned how it could hurt religious sentiments. She highlighted the inconsistency in the SGPC’s actions, noting that the local Sikh community was unaware of such strict regulations.

“The local people who come to the temple every day don’t know the rules, then how can they expect a Hindu girl travelling for the first time to Punjab to know the rules, especially when no one stopped me,” she wrote.

Makwana also called for the FIR to be quashed, claiming it lacked a factual basis and accusing the SGPC of not disclosing the true facts to the police. She emphasized that the FIR and the ensuing controversy have negatively impacted her business.

In her social media posts, Makwana urged her supporters to write to the Punjab Police, demanding the cancellation of the FIR. She maintained that her intention was never to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments but to promote unity and fitness through yoga.

“I tried to sort this issue peacefully but they don’t seem to understand it. It’s affecting my business and that I won’t tolerate at all,” she said.

On International Yoga Day, Makwana performed the Shirshasana (headstand) at the Golden Temple, drawing the attention of thousands of Sikh devotees present at the holy site. According to Makwana, none of the onlookers objected to her actions at the time, and one of the individuals who took her picture was a Sikh himself. She contends that if her actions had been offensive, someone would have intervened.

The SGPC, however, saw the act as a violation of religious decorum and filed a complaint against Makwana under Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings. This led to the Punjab police registering a case against her on June 23. In the wake of the incident, Makwana received severe criticism, including death threats, prompting the authorities to provide her with police protection.