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Hindustan Times
3 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.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
SGPC urges Centre to ensure safety of gurdwaras, sacred Saroops in Iran, Israel
Amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Thursday urged the Central Government to take urgent diplomatic measures to safeguard gurdwaras and Saroops, the sacred scriptures of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, located in the warring countries. In a statement issued in Amritsar, its SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, 'Sri Guru Granth Sahib holds the highest reverence for the Sikh community. Ensuring their respect and protection is of utmost importance.' 'The Government of India must 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 that their sanctity is fully preserved. It is the responsibility of governments of both countries to ensure the safety of gurdwaras and the sacred Saroops there,' he stated. He also appealed to the Sikhs living in Iran and Israel to remain in contact with local authorities and officials concerned to ensure the protection of the gurdwaras and the Saroops. Dhami has asked the Indian government to use international platforms to communicate with authorities in Iran and Israel. The SGPC chief said the current conditions in Iran and Israel require urgent diplomatic intervention. He noted that the committee is monitoring the developments in Iran and Israel and expects the Government of India to act promptly and sensitively on this critical issue.
New Indian Express
10-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
SGPC introduces digital ID code to track prints of Sri Guru Granth Sahib
CHANDIGARH: Aiming to ensure transparency and proper record-keeping of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has introduced a modern printing system in which every saroop will have a Sewa Pehchan Ank (service identification number) printed on it. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said that Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the spiritual nucleus of the Sikh community, and it is the primary responsibility of Sikh institutions to uphold its sanctity and respect. He emphasised that the SGPC is the only authorised publisher of the holy saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, which are distributed to the sangat (community) according to the proper maryada (code of conduct). Dhami said that the 'Sewa Pehchan Ank' (service identification number) will assign a distinct identifier to each saroop. This will help in maintaining accurate records thus enabling traceability, accountability and safeguarding the sanctity of every printed scripture of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. "Due to the incidents in the past, it has became crucial to establish a foolproof system for maintaining the sanctity and proper record of each saroop. It is our duty to ensure every saroop is handled with the highest level of respect and responsibility," he said. Dhami yesterday inaugurated the newly renovated sections of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Bhawan located at Gurdwara Sri Ramsar Sahib in Amritsar.
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SGPC introduces unique ID code to track holy saroops
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has introduced a modern printing system for publishing saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The system includes state-of-the-art technology and a unique identification code, aimed at ensuring transparency and proper record-keeping. The revamped printing facility, located at Sri Guru Granth Sahib Bhavan on the premises of Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib in Amritsar, was inaugurated by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Monday. 'The highlight of this initiative is the introduction of a digital identification code—called Sewa Pehchan Ank (service identification number)—that will be printed on every saroop. This code is part of a unified identification system designed to maintain a digital database of each published saroop, enabling traceability, accountability and preserving the sanctity of the holy saroop,' Dhami said. This move comes in the wake of a major controversy in 2020, when 328 saroops were found missing from SGPC records due to alleged misappropriation by staff. The issue led to a serious backlash from the Sikh community and an investigation by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of Sikhs. Several SGPC employees were found guilty of negligence and misconduct. 'In light of the past incidents, it became crucial to establish a foolproof system for maintaining the sanctity and proper record of each saroop. Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the central pillar of faith for the Sikh community, and maintaining the reverence and sanctity of the holy saroops is a major responsibility of Sikh institutions. It is our duty to ensure every saroop is handled with the highest level of respect and responsibility. The publication of the sacred saroop is solely carried out by the SGPC, from where the saroops are distributed to the sangat (community) according to religious protocol,' Dhami added. In addition to the printing system, hall number four of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Bhavan has been modernised to support the respectful handling, care, and preservation of the saroops. This seva (service) was carried out under the guidance of Baba Kashmir Singh Bhuriwale. Furthermore, the SGPC has constructed a new publications department office and literature house, overseen by Baba Sucha Singh and Baba Satnam Singh Qila Anandgarh Wale. 'The main objective of the renovation of the Bhavan is to make the process of publication and preservation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib more streamlined and respectful, ensuring complete security and reverence of the sacred saroops during their service and handling,' Dhami said. Similarly, the new publications department office and literature house will serve as a means to bring Sikh literature to the sangat. From here, the sangat will be able to obtain holy scriptures.
India Gazette
09-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Guru Granth Sahib Saroops moved to Amritsar from border areas amid India-Pakistan tensions
Tarn Taran (Punjab) [India], May 9 (ANI): Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, the holy saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib were shifted to Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib in Amritsar from the Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Havelian village of Tarn Taran on Friday. Manager of Golden Temple, Rajinder Singh, said that the holy saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib are being shifted to safer locations. 'Given the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have visited the villages and, after the consent of Granthis of the Gurdwara, the holy saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib are being shifted to safer locations. This is a village along the holy saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib are being shifted to Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib in Amritsar,' Singh told ANI. Earlier today, the Punjab government cancelled all leaves approved for the IAS and PCS officers across the state. It has also been instructed that no officer shall proceed on any kind of leave or move from station of posting without the explicit approval of the Chief Secretary. 'In view of the prevailing situation and preparedness for the emergency response system, it has been decided that no officer shall proceed on any kind of leave or leave their station of posting without the explicit approval of the Chief Secretary, Punjab. All the leaves approved so far stand cancelled,' said an order issued by Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, Secretary, Personnel. The District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) in Amritsar has urged all residents to stay indoors, keep their lights turned off, and draw their curtains for safety. 'All citizens are requested to stay indoors and away from the windows, keep lights turned off, and draw the window curtains. There is no need to panic. A siren will blow now, and we will pass the message again once it is clear,' the Amritsar DPRO said. Pakistan on Thursday night launched a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks along India's western border, targeting regions in Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan. According to Indian defence officials, the attacks were intercepted by India's air defence systems, including the S-400 missile defence system, preventing significant damage. (ANI)
