Controversy Unfolds Over Missing Sacred Texts: A Clash Between SGPC and Punjab Government

The Punjab Police filed an FIR against 16 individuals, including SGPC’s former chief, over the disappearance of 328 Guru Granth Sahib saroops in 2020. Allegations of misconduct prompted the SGPC and government officials to clash over interference in Sikh religious matters, raising concerns about political motives.

In a significant development, the Punjab Police have registered an FIR against 16 individuals, including former executives of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), regarding the mysterious disappearance of 328 sacred 'saroops' of the Guru Granth Sahib in 2020. This incident has sparked a major controversy, drawing attention to the serious allegations of misconduct within the SGPC.

According to the FIR, the charges range from attempting to defile a sacred object to criminal conspiracy, implicating prominent figures such as former SGPC chief secretary Roop Singh. The case has once again highlighted the friction between the state government and the SGPC, with Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan emphasizing that the government will not tolerate any act of sacrilege.

The clash has been further intensified by accusations from SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, who condemned the government for its perceived interference in Sikh institutions. Dhami stressed that the issue is an internal administrative matter of the SGPC and should not be politicized. As tensions rise, the call for maintaining the sanctity of religious institutions rings louder in Punjab.

(With inputs from agencies.)