The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) on Friday urged the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Panthic leaders to take immediate steps to secure the sacred saroops (scriptures) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from a gurdwara in conflict-hit Tehran, Iran.
Satnam Singh Chahal, executive director of NAPA, called on the SGPC to arrange a chartered flight and dispatch a dedicated team of five Sikhs to bring the saroops back to India with full respect and reverence. The copies are currently housed at Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha Gurdwara, located on the outskirts of Tehran.
Emphasising the gravity of the situation, Chahal said, “This is not the time to rely solely on government intervention. The SGPC has both the resources and the moral obligation to act decisively. Any delay may lead to irreversible consequences.”
The SGPC, however, has already made a formal request to the Union government to ensure the safety of Sikh shrines and saroops of the Guru Granth Sahib in both Iran and Israel. SGPC general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal confirmed that an appeal has been made to the Ministry of External Affairs in light of the growing conflict between the two nations.
On Thursday, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami reiterated that safeguarding the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was of paramount importance to the Sikh community. “Given the volatile situation, it is the responsibility of governments to ensure the protection of our religious institutions and scriptures,” Dhami said.
Citing precedence, he referred to 2021, when India had successfully arranged the repatriation of saroops from Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover.
While acknowledging the SGPC’s ongoing appeal to the central government, Chahal insisted that swift and independent action was necessary. “Time is of the essence. Relying on bureaucratic procedures could cost us dearly. We cannot afford to wait for bureaucratic processes. The safety and sanctity of Guru Granth Sahib Ji's saroops must be our top priority,” he warned.
The SGPC president had also urged Sikh residents in Iran and Israel to remain in contact with local authorities to ensure the security of the gurdwaras and sacred texts.
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