Further Controversy: Crawley Gurdwara Management Makes A U-turn

CRAWLEY, UK—The management committee of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Crawley is under scrutiny once again for not honoring their resignations after a secretive attempt in relocating Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to new premises, which left locals questioning the respect and sanctity given to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in the hurried move.  It is alleged that the management committee has made no apology, doesn’t recognize it’s mistake and nor has it honored the resignations that were verbally made to the sangat (congregation).

Earlier this month, Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Crawley came under media attention after the Gurdwara management committee made a hurried and secretive attempt to relocate and lock up the current Gurdwara without the knowledge or consultation of the wider congregation. CCTV footage released showed Sri Guru Granth Sahib was shown a lack of due care and respect in accordance to religious protocol when taken from the Gurdwara to the new site. The local community was divided whether the Edwards Social and Sports Club in Ilfield should become the new location of the Gurdwara Sahib or whether the current site, situated on Spencers Road, should be built upon. As a consequence, divisions have been made in the local congregation and many people left upset.

On 9 December, Sikh24 issued a press release sent by the management committee of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Crawley stating that the ‘Satkar Committee’ of the UK, a national body of Sikhs that promote and help to uphold the sanctity and respect for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, had intervened and announced that the local congregation of the Gurdwara Sahib are happy with the President and Secretary resigning.

It was said in the press release that the Sangat had accepted apologies and were to deal with any remaining issues internally. However, it has come forward that after the verbal resignations provided by President, Amarjit Kaur, and Secretary, Mohinder Singh Galluwalia, they still remain in their posts and have now made a u-turn in resigning.

In a meeting between the Gurdwara management committee and the local community held on Thursday 10 December presided by Mr Bhullar from Sikh Channel and Bhai Sewa Singh Lallie from Gravesend, the President and Secretary of the Gurdwara stated that they had not resigned. One local community member who supports remaining at the current Gurdwara site told Sikh24, “The Gurdwara Committee have made no resignations despite giving their word. They have not apologised to the local Sangat nor recognized their mistake, contrary to misleading press release.”  

It was reported in the local newspapers that the Gurdwara management committee had agreed in with the Police that half of the Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib would be allowed to remain at the Gurdwara Sahib and half the Saroops would be allowed to remain at the Edwards Social and Sports Club building. However, no Saroops were given by the Gurdwara management committee to remain at the Gurdwara Sahib. 

Manjit Singh, from Crawley’s Sikh community, told Sikh24, “We had to get a Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji from Southall because the Gurdwara Committee refused to give us Saroops.” He added, “The new site where the management committee has relocated Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji does not have anyone staying there on site, nor any Granthi. We concerned for the sanctity and saftey of the Saroops of Guru Ji.”

“The Granthi Singh is residing at the Gurdwara Sahib [on Spencer’s Road], as well as local volunteers ensure that every night someone from the community stays over at the Gurdwara to ensure the safety of the Gurdwara and respect of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji remains.”

“We are continuing to do daily programs as we have always with daily morning and evening Divaans. We are unsure what is happening at the new site.” 

In the attempted re-location, the Granthi Singh has accused the management committee of forcibly taking his mobile phone from him and physically intimidating him. A police report was made, however, till now there been no feedback from the Police on this matter.