Pro-gay Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne pays obeisance at Golden Temple, gets warm welcome

AMRITSAR: Amidst severe controversy Pro-gay Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne today paid obeisance in the sanctum sanctorum of Golden Temple. Kathleen was accorded Red carpet warm welcome by the Shriomani Gurdwara Pharbandhak Committee (SGPC) which had announced last evening that SGPC would not extend honor to her due to views in favour marriage in same sex which Sikh religion strongly condemn it.The moment Kathleen Wynne reached at the threshold of the Golden Temple the senior staff members including special staff of Information Centre which usually receives the VVIPS came forward to receive her and escorted her up to the sanctum sanctorum while walking on the marbled periphery of around the pond of holy nectar (water pool).After paying obeisance she was escorted to Information office of the Golden Temple by the senior functionaries of the SGPC where she presented Gold plated photo of Golden Temple along with set of Sikh religious books by the chief Secretary of SGPC Mr. Harcharan Singh.She was also offered refreshment like tea and snacks in the Information centre of Golden Temple. But at the same time SGPC denied she was offered Siropa (robe of honour) to her. But the way SGPC has accorded her VVIP treatment and Red carpet welcome and presented Gold plated Golden Temple photo was more than Siropa.SGPC senior Information officer Mr. Gurbachan Singh who was accompanying the Wynne when she was in the Sikh shrine said the she was also apprised about the Sikh history with regard to Golden Temple besides the spot where Indian Army stationed Tanks and heavy artillery during the infamous operation Blue star when Indian army attacked on Golden Temple in 1984.Gurbachan Singh said that Kathleen listened everything about Sikh history with rapt attention. Kathleen also visited the Langar (community kitchen) where she cooked food with rest of the devotees. Today there was heavy crowd of devotees in the Golden Temple due to Sunday holiday.“Thank you for the very humbling and special visit to this beautiful scared palace” she written in the visitor book before leaving the Golden Temple.Wynne, a lesbian, is a supporter of same-sex marriages, a practice is deadly opposed by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs as well as SGPC.She joined the premier’s office in 2013, her relations with minority ethnic communities, including Sikhs and Muslims, in Ontario have been reportedly strained.Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh while supporting the decision of SGPC said, “The SGPC’s decision was correct not to offer her Siropa. To pay obeisance in the Golden Temple and paying obeisance was everyone’s right, but to give siropa dignitaries, Sikh tenets needed to be followed carefully.” Akal Takht jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti had issued an edict in 2005 against such marriages and strongly condemned the Canadian government’s move to hold legitimate same-sex marriages.Akal Takht sitting Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh had time and again directed all Sikh shrines all over the world not to solemnise same-sex marriages.