Act immediately to retrieve Guru Granth Sahib copies from Iran: NAPA urges SGPC

Chandigarh, Jun 20 (PTI) The North American Punjabi Association on Friday appealed to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the broader Panthic leadership to safeguard the sacred copies of the Guru Granth Sahib kept at a gurdwara in war-hit Iran's Tehran.

Satnam Singh Chahal, the executive director of the association, urged the SGPC to immediately arrange a chartered aircraft and deploy a group of five dedicated Sikhs to accompany the 'saroops' (physical copy of Guru Granth Sahib) back home with full respect.

The Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha Gurdwara is located on the outskirts of Tehran, the capital of Iran.

Meanwhile, SGPC general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal on Friday said the gurdwara management body has already urged the Centre to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of gurdwaras and the sacred 'saroops' of Guru Granth Sahib in Iran and Israel in light of the escalating conflict between the two countries.

On Thursday, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami had emphasised that Guru Granth Sahib holds the highest reverence for the Sikh community, and ensuring its respect and protection is of utmost importance for the community.

"Due to the current volatile conditions in Iran and Israel, it is the responsibility of governments to ensure the safety of gurdwaras and the sacred 'saroops' of Sri Guru Granth Sahib present there," Dhami had said in a statement.

The government of India must use its diplomatic relations and international platforms to engage with the governments of Iran and Israel to ensure that no harm comes to the gurdwaras or the 'saroops' of Guru Granth Sahib, and that their sanctity is fully preserved, he said.

Chahal acknowledged the SGPC president's appeal, but asserted that the body has the resources and moral responsibility to act independently in the matter.

"This is not the time to rely solely on appeals to the Union government. Time is of the essence, and any delay could lead to irreparable consequences.

"We cannot afford to wait for bureaucratic processes. The safety and sanctity of Guru Granth Sahib Ji's saroops must be our top priority," Chahal said.

Highlighting the urgency of the matter, especially amid the escalating conflict in the region, Chahal warned that relying on the central government's decision-making could result in dangerous delays.

"The SGPC has the resources and moral responsibility to act independently in this religious matter," he said.

Earlier, Dhami had also appealed to the Sikhs residing in Iran and Israel to remain in contact with local authorities and relevant officials to help ensure the protection of the gurdwaras and the sacred 'saroops'.

In 2021, the central government had made special arrangements to bring back the 'saroops' of Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan after the Taliban's takeover of the country. PTI VSD SUN RHL MPL MPL