The political storm over the 328 missing saroops (copies) of the Guru Granth Sahib intensified on Tuesday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) waded into the contentious issue, directly challenging the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The BJP dismissed the Sikh body's explanations as "meaningless," escalating a sensitive matter with deep religious and administrative implications.
BJP's Scathing Attack on SGPC's Stance
Punjab BJP spokesperson Sarchand Singh launched a sharp critique, reacting to a press conference addressed earlier in the day by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami. Singh alleged that without first establishing the actual identification of the sacred volumes, every explanation from the SGPC was "not only meaningless but also false, misleading, and a blatant betrayal of the Sikh community."
He accused the SGPC chief of attempting to downplay a serious crisis by portraying it as a mere administrative lapse. "Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji are not office files or warehouse inventory, but represent the soul, identity and religious dignity of the Sikh panth," Sarchand Singh asserted. He termed the alleged disappearance an "administrative error that amounts to legitimising betrayal of the Guru's sacred trust."
Questions on Justice and Legal Accountability
The BJP leader raised pointed questions about the nature of the action taken. He argued that merely removing 16 officials from service did not constitute justice. "Why was the Sikh community still awaiting justice in Bargari, Kotkapura, and Burj Jawahar Singh sacrilege cases?" he asked. The real issue, according to him, is the absence of concrete legal action against the culprits.
Singh also challenged the SGPC's claim that its internal rules do not mandate handing over cases to the police. He stated this was a direct challenge to the law and the Constitution. "When the matter concerns Guru Granth Sahib, the law of the land and constitutional accountability apply — decisions of an internal committee cannot override this obligation," he said.
Citing the Sikh Gurdwaras Act for Government Role
In a detailed rebuttal, the BJP spokesperson invoked the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 to counter the SGPC's assertion of non-interference. He pointed out that while Section 144 prohibits government officials from directly managing gurdwara property, Sections 114 to 116 explicitly require the committee to provide account copies to the deputy commissioner upon inquiry.
He further highlighted that the Act mandates the committee's accounts to be audited annually by a state government-appointed auditor, with audit report copies submitted to the state government and the Commission within 30 days.
Contradictions and Allegations of Criminal Negligence
Sarchand Singh pointed to contradictions in the SGPC's statements, noting that while claims were made about the saroops being "safe," orders were simultaneously issued to seek information about them. "This contradiction itself proves that the saroops are, in fact, missing," he alleged.
He further claimed that neither the Akal Takht nor the SGPC possessed complete records of the sacred volumes. "This is not merely administrative failure but criminal negligence," he charged.
FIR Registered Under Court Orders, Not Political Pressure
Defending the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) in the case, the BJP representative clarified that it was done following clear directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, not under political pressure. He warned that terming this legal action as 'political interference' was a "dangerous attempt to pit the judicial system against the Akal Takht."
The BJP's forceful entry into the debate sets the stage for a heightened confrontation with the SGPC, which has firmly stated it would not accept interference by any authority. The issue continues to resonate deeply within the Sikh community and Punjab's political landscape.
