In a significant development concerning the disappearance of 328 saroops of Guru Granth Sahib, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann made a public announcement on Wednesday. He revealed that a special investigation team has successfully traced 169 of these holy scriptures.
Discovery at Religious Site Near Banga
The recovery occurred at Rasokhana Raja Sahib Nabh Kanwal, located in Mazara Nau Abad village near Banga within Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district. A Punjab Police spokesperson provided detailed information about the findings through an official written statement.
Authorities conducted a thorough inspection of the religious site where they discovered all 169 saroops. According to police records, 30 of these recovered saroops were originally distributed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to other locations.
Breakdown of Recovered Saroops
The investigation revealed specific details about the origins of some saroops:
- 10 saroops came through Gurdwara Sahib Patshahi Satvin
- 20 saroops came through Gurdwara Sahib Mazara Nau Abad village in 2009
Currently, all these recovered saroops remain stored at Rasokhana Raja Sahib Nabh Kanwal instead of their designated gurdwaras. This situation has raised questions about proper management and record-keeping.
Unresolved Cases and Missing Records
Chief Minister Mann addressed the public during AAP's Maghi Mela political conference, providing additional context about the investigation. He emphasized that 139 of the traced saroops still lack proper documentation.
Local religious officials at the site could not provide any details about the origin of these 139 saroops. The management committee of Rasokhana Raja Sahib Nabh Kanwal possesses no records regarding these particular scriptures.
Mann expressed serious concern about this situation, questioning how the religious community can protect their faith if holy scriptures remain unsafe within their own institutions.
Political Dimensions and Upcoming Visit
The timing of this announcement carries political significance, coming just one day before Mann's scheduled appearance at the Akal Takht secretariat. The Chief Minister used the platform to criticize political opponents while discussing the sensitive matter.
Mann specifically targeted Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal regarding the party's conduct during Maghi Mela celebrations. He contrasted AAP's approach with that of SAD, claiming his party encourages devotees to visit gurdwaras before political gatherings.
Government Commitment and Criticism
The Punjab government has committed to returning all recovered saroops to their appropriate locations with full honors. This process will involve consultation with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to ensure proper protocol.
However, Mann also directed criticism toward SGPC during his address. He questioned the committee's effectiveness in safeguarding holy scriptures, suggesting systemic issues need addressing.
Mann further alleged that when SAD's Virsa Singh Valtoha faced questions about the missing saroops, he attempted to divert the conversation rather than address the core issue. The Chief Minister emphasized that these scriptures hold deep significance for the entire community and deserve transparent handling.
