The Guru Nanak Foundation of America (GNFA) Gurdwara reopened it’s doors over the weekend, but not to everyone. As people started arriving early Sunday morning for 7am Aasaa Di Vaar, they were met at the front door by four police officers and the chairman Kashmir Singh Dhariwal who was pointing to some people at the door and telling the police not to let them in. He and the rest of the management were standing inside with only the “approved” Sangat members inside the divaan hall. The “disapproved”sangat members were left standing outside in the rain.

The police officers were told that because the Gurdwara was incorporated as a corporation, GNFA, Inc., it’s managing board members have the same legal authority as, say, IBM. If IBM can stop people it thinks are disruptive from entering it’s property, so can GNFA.

The police were told to wait for the arrival of the management’s attorney. The sangat was made to wait outside for over an hour before they were finally let in. The Gurdwara had two simultaneous divaans in the same building with the management supporters in the divaan hall and the opposition supporters in the langar hall. The attorneys sat by the door along with the police officers.