AMRITSAR, Punjab (KP) – A gathering of Sikh organizations at Sri Akal Takht Sahib to seek Panthic action over the controversial shipment of 225 saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to Canada took an unexpected turn after a senior Punjab Police officer intervened (video below) during the proceedings, prompting accusations of government interference in Panthic matters. The incident comes amid growing calls from Sikh organizations for greater transparency and Panth-wide protocols governing the international transportation of Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Representatives of Sikh organizations had assembled to submit a memorandum to the Akal Takht Secretariat and perform an ardas regarding what they describe as the disrespectful transportation of Guru Granth Sahib Ji aboard a commercial container ship.
During the gathering, a senior Punjab Police officer, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Harpal Singh engaged with organizers and challenged the basis for the proposed ardas. According to video recordings of the exchange, the officer argued that an ardas should not be offered on the premise of beadbi, stating that such a conclusion had not been established.
The intervention immediately drew objections from Sikh activists, who questioned why a police officer was involved in determining whether Sikhs could perform an ardas before Sri Akal Takht Sahib concerning an issue of Panthic concern. Organizers argued that decisions relating to religious observances, including whether an ardas should be offered, rest with the Sikh Panth and the Akal Takht Sahib rather than the civil administration.
Panthic Organizations: Transportation Alternatives Were Available
Addressing the gathering, Sikh activist Bhai Tejbir Singh of Damdami Taksal argued that the controversy extends far beyond whether existing administrative procedures were followed. He maintained that the central issue is whether the highest standards of satkar (reverence) for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were observed.
Bhai Tejbir Singh questioned why the SGPC chose to transport the saroops by commercial sea freight when, according to him, more respectful alternatives were available.
He stated that if private individuals could establish specialized transportation facilities for religious purposes, the SGPC—with its resources and institutional authority—could likewise have developed arrangements befitting the Guru Granth Sahib. He further claimed that a Canadian company had offered the use of a private aircraft dedicated to transporting Guru Granth Sahib Ji without carrying alcohol or other commercial cargo, describing it as a seva opportunity. According to Bhai Tejbir Singh, the existence of such alternatives undermines the argument that containerized sea transport was the only practical option.
For the organizations present, the issue is therefore not simply whether damage occurred during the voyage, but whether every possible measure was taken to uphold the highest standards of respect for Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Calls for Independent Panthic Review
The Sikh organizations are urging the Akal Takht Sahib to independently examine the shipment and establish clear Panth-wide protocols for the international transportation of Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Among the demands being advanced are:
- an independent inspection of the transported saroops;
- a review of the procedures used during the shipment;
- greater transparency regarding future overseas transportation; and
- the establishment of globally applicable Panthic standards for transporting, handling, and receiving Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Supporters argue that as Sikh communities continue to grow around the world, uniform standards approved by the Akal Takht Sahib are essential to prevent similar controversies in the future. Sikh organizations in Canada have recently submitted recommendations to the Akal Takht Secretariat seeking measures to avoid a recurrence of the dispute.
Focus Shifts to Police Interference & Independence of Sikh Institutions
Speakers at the gathering also stated that the presence of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Harpal Singh attempting to influence proceedings at Sri Akal Takht Sahib raises broader questions about the independence of Sikh institutions and the proper relationship between the civil administration and the Panth’s highest temporal authority.
For the organizations assembled, the controversy has now evolved beyond one shipment to Canada. They contend it has become a wider Panthic discussion about preserving the dignity of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, strengthening accountability within Sikh institutions, and ensuring that deliberations before the Akal Takht Sahib remain free from external influence.
Panthic :: A Khalsa Press Publication
