AMRITSAR SAHIB: Various Sikh organizations led by the Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee are gearing up to intensify stir against the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) by launching indefinite agitation over the issue of missing Guru Granth Sahib saroops.
Representatives of the organizations conducted a meeting today at Gurdwara Attari Sahib at Sultanwind here to discuss the matter and chalk out the future course of action in view of the indifferent attitude of the SGPC in taking action against its employees who are responsible for misappropriation in the publication department of the gurdwara body, that led as many as 514 holy saroops missing.
Prof. Baljinder Singh, the representative of the committee constituted by Akal Takht jathedar Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, also attended the meeting to join the cause. In a press release issued after the meeting, spokespersons stated that a joint committee had been set up to go for a joint action programme. Under this, an indefinite Morcha (agitation) will be launched after the due discussion to get justice in this case, said Sukhjit Singh Khose, one of the topmost leaders of the Satkar committees.
They particularly highlighted the fire incident took place in Guru Granth Sahib Bhawan at Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib, where the holy saroops are printed, in May 2016. They also lodged a complaint to Amritsar Police Commissioner Sukhchain Singh Gill telling him that this incident massively damaged the holy ‘birs’ of Guru Granth Sahib but the SGPC hid this fact to save the then regime of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) from the public wrath at the time when it was facing backlash from the Sikh masses over Bargari sacrilege issue.
The SGPC had stated that total 14 saroops were damaged in the incident—five were burnt and nine got damaged during fire control operation. However, as per the inquiry conducted by Advocate Ishar Singh-led inquiry panel, it failed to produce the record to prove this number, while an office note of the SGPC clearly mentions that as many as 80 saroops were damaged by this incident.
Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) along with other Sikh organizations has called a meeting on this issue at Manji Sahib Diwan Hall, Sri Darbar Sahib, here on September 14 to chalk out the future course of the struggle. The organizations which conducted meeting today are expected to join them for this common cause.
On the other hand, the Sikh organizations including Dal Khalsa staged a peaceful dharna outside the residence of SGPC general secretary Harjinder Singh Dhami at Hoshiarpur seeking justice on the issue. Dhami is also heading a committee the SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal constituted initiate legal action against all the culprits, though later on, he made a U-turn on taking legal action against its staffers.
