VADODARA: Vadodara fashion designer Archana Makwana, who was booked for ‘hurting religious sentiments‘ for doing yoga at Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, on Monday filed a police complaint against unknown persons for issuing rape and death threats. Makwana has also stated in her police complaint that it was only after the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages the Golden Temple, issued a statement objecting to her yoga pose, that she started receiving threats online and on her mobile phone.She submitted her complaint at the Police Bhavan here.
The designer landed in trouble after she performed yoga on the Golden Temple premises on International Yoga Day and posted the photos on her Instagram account. The photo of her doing Shirsasana went viral on social media following which SGPC filed an FIR against Makwana on June 22 accusing Makwana of ‘hurting religious sentiments’. “My phone hasn’t stopped ringing since then. I am constantly getting calls and messages from unknown people who are threatening to kill me. So, I have filed a police complaint. I hope the cops act on my complaint and file an FIR,” Makwana told TOI.
“The SGPC has alleged that I went to the temple only for the photo session on International Yoga Day (June 21) which is untrue. I visited the Golden Temple on June 20, performed sewa and also donated Rs 2,100. My intention behind doing yoga was to spread a message of unity and fitness but it has been given a political colour,” Makwana said.
She stated in the complaint that she had been summoned by the Punjab police but she was scared to go there as there was a threat to her life. “I wanted to file an FIR against SGPC as I am facing a threat to my life due to their statement, but the police here told me that I will have to go to Punjab to file a complaint against SGPC,” she added.
Commenting on the incident, Vadodara police commissioner Narasimha Komar said, “We will go through her (Makwana’s) complaint thoroughly, investigate the matter and then consider filing an FIR. Makwana has already been given security considering the threat perception.”
The designer landed in trouble after she performed yoga on the Golden Temple premises on International Yoga Day and posted the photos on her Instagram account. The photo of her doing Shirsasana went viral on social media following which SGPC filed an FIR against Makwana on June 22 accusing Makwana of ‘hurting religious sentiments’. “My phone hasn’t stopped ringing since then. I am constantly getting calls and messages from unknown people who are threatening to kill me. So, I have filed a police complaint. I hope the cops act on my complaint and file an FIR,” Makwana told TOI.
“The SGPC has alleged that I went to the temple only for the photo session on International Yoga Day (June 21) which is untrue. I visited the Golden Temple on June 20, performed sewa and also donated Rs 2,100. My intention behind doing yoga was to spread a message of unity and fitness but it has been given a political colour,” Makwana said.
She stated in the complaint that she had been summoned by the Punjab police but she was scared to go there as there was a threat to her life. “I wanted to file an FIR against SGPC as I am facing a threat to my life due to their statement, but the police here told me that I will have to go to Punjab to file a complaint against SGPC,” she added.
Commenting on the incident, Vadodara police commissioner Narasimha Komar said, “We will go through her (Makwana’s) complaint thoroughly, investigate the matter and then consider filing an FIR. Makwana has already been given security considering the threat perception.”