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Deccan Herald
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Act immediately to retrieve Guru Granth Sahib 'saroops' from Iran: NAPA urges SGPC
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.


Time of India
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Act immediately to retrieve Guru Granth Sahib 'saroops' from Iran: NAPA urges SGPC
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The North American Punjabi Association on Friday appealed to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the broader Panthic leadership to safeguard the sacred 'saroops' of the Guru Granth Sahib kept at a gurdwara in war-hit Iran's 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 to SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami appealing to the Union government to arrange for the transportation of the 'saroops' to India, Chahal said the gurdwara management 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 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.


New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
NAPA urges SGPC to act immediately to retrieve Guru Granth Sahib 'saroops' from war-torn Iran
CHANDIGARH: The North American Punjabi Association on Friday appealed to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the broader Panthic leadership to safeguard the sacred 'saroops' 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. Reacting to SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami appealing to the Union government to arrange for the transportation of the 'saroops' to India, Chahal said the gurdwara management 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.


Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
SGPC asks Indian govt to protect Sikh scriptures in Iran and Israel
1 2 Amritsar: A day after TOI took up the issue of safety of the 'saroop' of Guru Granth Sahib and concerns of the Sikh community in conflict-ridden Iran, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Thursday appealed to the Centre to ensure safety of Sikh religious scriptures in Iran and Israel. "Act without delay to ensure the protection of gurdwaras and the sacred saroops of Guru Granth Sahib in both the nations, given the ongoing war-like situation between Iran and Israel," SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said in his appeal to the Centre. The SGPC president also asked members of the Sikh community residing in Iran and Israel to remain in contact with the local authorities and relevant officials to support efforts in safeguarding gurdwaras and the sacred saroops. He said the SGPC was monitoring the situation and expects the central govt to respond with urgency and sensitivity. Lajpal Singh, the former vice-president of the Tehran-based Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha Gurdwara Management Committee, and Singh Chandok, a former resident of Tehran, expressed concern over the security of four 'saroops' currently placed in the 'sukhasan' of the gurdwara. They urged the Indian embassy in Tehran to provide a room in the embassy premises for the Sikh holy scriptures. Lajpal Singh, said that in the past, the gurdwara management had moved 20 'saroops' including 16 'bridh' (elderly) 'saroop', to India. In Iran, social activist and educationist Dr N A Soufi visited the Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Tehran on Thursday. He interacted with the caretakers and assured them of all possible support. Soufi, who resides near the gurdwara, said he visited the premises and found everything to be in order. "I interacted with an Iranian gardener, Abbas, and caretaker Harjit Singh. The building is safe and the Sikh holy scriptures are also secure within the premises," Soufi said. Abbas, who was left behind after members of the Gurdwara management committee relocated to safer areas, confirmed that the gurdwara has not suffered any damage. He said that he continues to maintain the premises, keeping them clean, ensuring the plants are well-watered, and attending to other essential upkeep tasks. Harjit Singh, who originally hails from Hoshiarpur and is also currently staying at the gurdwara, confirmed that the 'saroop' of Guru Granth Sahib was safe, and the gurdwara building remains unharmed. "There is no panic here," said he. Tehran Gurdwara Safe: Caretaker Social activist and educationist Dr N A Soufi visits Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Tehran, says the building is safe and Sikh holy scriptures secure Caretaker confirms that the 'saroop' of Guru Granth Sahib is safe and the gurdwara building remains unharmed Soufi feels situation in Iran is not as bad as portrayed by media, says just a small percentage of people have left Tehran, with majority still in the capital MSID:: 121953530 413 |


Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SGPC urges Centre to ensure safety of gurdwaras, saroops in Iran, Israel
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Thursday urged the Government of India to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of gurdwaras and the sacred saroops (scriptures) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in Iran and Israel in view of the ongoing war between the two countries in West Asia. In a statement, Dhami said Sri Guru Granth Sahib holds the highest reverence for the Sikh community and ensuring the respect and protection is of utmost importance. He said due to the current volatile conditions in Iran and Israel, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety of gurdwaras and sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib there. He said that the Centre 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 Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and their sanctity is fully preserved. Dhami appealed to Sikhs in Iran and Israel to remain in touch with the local authorities to help protect the gurdwaras and saroops. He said that the SGPC is monitoring the situation closely and expects the Government of India to act promptly and sensitively on this issue.