A major dispute has erupted between the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Punjab government, centered on the investigation into missing Saroops (holy volumes) of the Guru Granth Sahib. The controversy has escalated into a public war of words, raising serious questions about administrative control and the handling of sensitive religious matters.
The Core of the Controversy: Missing Holy Volumes
The conflict stems from the disappearance of several Saroops of the Guru Granth Sahib. The SGPC, the apex religious body managing Sikh shrines, has accused the Punjab Police of failing to make progress in the case. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has been vocal, criticizing the state government for its perceived inaction. He specifically pointed out that despite the passage of time, no concrete leads or recoveries have been made, causing deep anguish within the Sikh community.
In response, the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has fired back. The government has questioned the SGPC's own accountability in the matter. Officials have highlighted that the Saroops went missing from the SGPC's own custody, implying a failure in the committee's internal security and management protocols. This exchange has transformed a criminal investigation into a heated political and administrative blame game.
Accusations and Counter-Accusations Fly
The friction intensified recently when the Punjab government made a significant administrative move. It transferred the police investigation of the missing Saroops case from the Amritsar police commissioner's jurisdiction to the state's Crime Investigation Agency (CIA). The SGPC perceived this as an attempt to sideline the local Amritsar police and potentially derail or control the probe.
Harjinder Singh Dhami condemned this transfer, alleging it was a tactic to shield certain individuals. "The state government is trying to save the real culprits," Dhami asserted, claiming the move exposed the government's insincerity. He argued that the Amritsar Police Commissionerate was capable of handling the investigation and the transfer was politically motivated.
On the other side, Punjab's Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal presented a different narrative. He squarely placed the responsibility on the SGPC, stating that the holy volumes disappeared under their watch. "The SGPC should answer how the Saroops went missing from their possession," Dhaliwal stated, shifting the focus of accountability back to the religious body.
Broader Implications and Community Sentiment
This row is more than a simple administrative tussle; it touches a raw nerve in Sikh religious sentiment. The Guru Granth Sahib is revered as the eternal living Guru, and any disrespect or negligence towards its Saroops is considered a grave offense. The ongoing public spat between two powerful institutions—the elected Sikh religious management body and the elected state government—is causing concern among devotees.
The situation highlights a deepening rift and a struggle for authority. The SGPC, which operates under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, often finds itself at odds with the state government on matters of religious management. This incident has become a flashpoint for that ongoing tension. The key questions remain unanswered: Where are the missing Saroops? Who is ultimately responsible for their security? And can these two entities collaborate to resolve a matter of profound religious importance?
As accusations continue to fly between the SGPC office in Amritsar and the government offices in Chandigarh, the Sikh community waits for a resolution that prioritizes the sanctity of the Guru Granth Sahib over political and institutional rivalry. The need for a transparent, swift, and effective investigation is paramount to restore trust.
