Photoshoot at ‘Kartarpur’ gurdwara stirs up controversy on Social media

Photoshoot at ‘Kartarpur’ gurdwara stirred up up controversy on Social media.

A clothing business recently got into trouble when a supposed photoshoot of a blogger near the Kartarpur Corridor went viral on social media. Ravinder Singh Robin, a prominent Indian Sikh journalist, was among the first to flag up a blogger’s ‘bareheaded’ fashion shoot at Gurdwara.

Background

The woman, according to reports, is a social media influencer who sent her photos to the online apparel firm ‘Mannat Clothing.‘ Soon after the photoshoot at Kartarpur went viral, the brand that uploaded them became embroiled in a scandal.

Several Sikhs have voiced their indignation at the business for filming a commercial at the gurdwara and disregarding the Sikh code of conduct.

Modelling bareheaded for ladies' attire, in the premises of Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib at #KartarpurSahib in Pakistan, by a Lahorite woman, has several hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs. Further the pictures were uploaded on social media.@ImranKhanPTI @MORAisbOfficial pic.twitter.com/i5RX01kWGo

— Ravinder Singh Robin ਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ رویندرسنگھ روبن (@rsrobin1) November 29, 2021

The outrage over the photos quickly spread on social media, with many criticizing the brand and the models for being insensitive to Sikhs.

Modelling at Sri Kartarpur Sahib is Desecration. Pak Court issued Arrest Warrant of star who did dance video at Mosque; same must be done against this woman frm Lahore as example of treating all religion at par

Otherwise, any talk of respect for Sikhism is hollow @GovtofPakistan https://t.co/0OsPJyg3a9 pic.twitter.com/T2CigYRsxR

— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) November 29, 2021

This is unacceptable. These unethical practices will not be tolerated. Sometimes, it's their Tiktok stars & the other times it's their fashion industry.

— Navdeep Singh (@Navdeep_UK) November 29, 2021

The apparel company has now released a statement clarifying the situation. The Instagram page has subsequently removed the contentious posts and issued a statement. Meanwhile, the apparel company defended itself, claiming that the shoot was unrelated to any of its advertisements.

“These photos were sent to us by a third party (blogger), in which they donned our clothing. However, we realize our mistake that we should not have posted this video and we apologize to everyone,” the statement said.

CM Buzdar stated that action should also be taken against the workers who allowed the photo session.

“We respect the emotions of minorities residing in Pakistan,” he said, adding that it is apparent that the event has harmed the Sikh community’s sentiments. “Not only will action be taken against those guilty following a thorough investigation into the event,” he continued, “but it will also be seen being done.”

Punjab Police, on the other hand, stated in a post on a social media website that all elements of the event are being examined and that strict legal action would be taken against those guilty.