Concerned about the fate of 328 copies of the sacred Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib that have vanished from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s (SGPC) records, the Sikh Sadhbawna Dal (SDD) has taken a bold step by fielding independent candidates in three Punjab constituencies during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The move is intended to draw attention to the unresolved issue and demand action from major political parties.
The SDD chief, Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala, expressed frustration over the lack of progress in the case despite approaching various authorities and seeking legal recourse since 2021. He lamented that their legal battles have only yielded hearing dates, with the latest one set for August 29. This has shaken their faith in the justice delivery system.
In response to the perceived inaction by politicians, the SDD has decided to field independent candidates in Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, and Ferozepur. They believe that this move will force major parties to address the issue and take concrete steps to retrieve the missing holy books.
The issue of the missing saroops first came to light in 2020 when the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO), a private entity, reported that an SGPC employee, Kanwaljit Singh, had reported 267 missing saroops. The PHRO later claimed to have found that the actual number of missing saroops was 328. The SGPC subsequently appointed advocate Ishar Singh to investigate the matter.
The SDD’s decision to field independent candidates is a testament to the deep concern and frustration felt by the Sikh community over the missing holy books. They hope that the public attention generated by the elections will put pressure on authorities to resolve the issue and ensure the safe return of the missing saroops.
