Gandhi Barred From Site at Sikh Temple
Sikh officials armed with swords stopped Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday from entering the seat of the Sikh religion, the site of an army raid 15 years ago that was called by her late mother-in-law.
“Stop her!” officials standing on the steps of the Akal Takht building shouted as Gandhi walked toward it. Sikhs traditionally wear swords, one of the five symbols of their religion.
The Akal Takht building is the Sikh spiritual and temporal throne in the Golden Temple complex.
An escort of priests welcomed Gandhi to the temple itself, but officials did not say why she was barred from visiting Akal Takht.
In 1984, troops stormed the complex to flush out Sikh rebels on orders from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. She was later slain by her Sikh bodyguards.
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