Tensions flared in Amritsar as members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) held a demonstration in front of the office of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The protest was centered on a deeply sensitive issue: the unresolved disappearance of 328 saroops (sacred copies) of the Guru Granth Sahib that went missing back in 2020.
Confrontation at the Protest Site
When party leaders and workers assembled to begin their demonstration, they were stopped by police personnel. The situation intensified as women leaders of the party also arrived at the site, symbolically carrying bangles. A heated argument ensued between the party's working president, Imaan Singh Mann, and a senior police officer holding the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP).
A Matter of Faith and Accountability
Imaan Singh Mann emphasized the gravity of the issue, stating that the case of the 328 saroops is profoundly sensitive and directly linked to the faith of the Sikh sangat (community). He expressed deep frustration that, years after the incident, neither has the complete truth emerged nor has any responsibility been fixed for the disappearance.
Mann issued a stern warning, asserting that the failure to ensure accountability in such a serious matter raises serious questions about the credibility of Sikh institutions entrusted with the protection of sacred religious items. The protest underscored a growing demand for transparency and action regarding the missing saroops.
Unresolved Questions and Community Sentiment
The protest highlights a lingering wound within the community. The disappearance of hundreds of sacred scriptures is not viewed as a simple administrative lapse but as a profound spiritual and institutional failure. The demonstrators' message was clear: the Sikh community deserves answers and concrete steps must be taken to address this breach of trust and prevent such incidents in the future.
