After the statement by SGPC that it will not cooperate with the administration in connection with the disappearance of 328 saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, a press conference was held today in Chandigarh by Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala, Chief of Sikh Sadbhavna Dal and former Hazoori Ragi of Sri Darbar Sahib; Bhai Sukhjit Singh Khose, President of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee; farmer leader Bhai Baldev Singh Sirsa; and other Panthic leaders. During the press conference, they presented their stand with full firmness and clarity.

Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala, citing facts, stated that the Sikh Panth and ordinary Sikhs are demanding answers from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee regarding the 328 saroops—on whose instructions were these saroops given, to whom were they given, for what purpose were they given, and under what circumstances are those saroops now.

Bhai Wadala explained in detail that regarding these 328 saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Doctor Ishar Singh Committee was constituted, which submitted a 1,100-page report to Sri Akal Takht Sahib. This report ordered departmental action as well as the registration of criminal cases, stating that the matter should be dealt with under relevant sections of the IPC. However, the Shiromani Committee, under the guise of departmental action, awarded only nominal punishments to the accused.

For justice in this matter, various Panthic organizations carried out protests and demonstrations. Some Panthic groups even staged a sit-in protest outside the office of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. In 2020, the SGPC’s task force not only subjected them to inhuman torture but also got FIRs registered against them with the police. At that time, why were these people not presented before Sri Akal Takht Sahib by the Committee? They were Panthic individuals as well. Bhai Wadala stated that the FIR in this matter was registered about five and a half years ago, at a time when the Shiromani Committee had not responded at all to the letter he had written seeking justice for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Bhai Sukhjit Singh Khose, President of the Satkar Committee, said that the Shiromani Committee’s refusal to cooperate with the SIT directly means that it does not want justice to be delivered in the matter of the missing saroops and wants to protect the guilty by all means. He said it is clear that the thief and the watchman are acting together—in other words, the Shiromani Committee and the accused are united. He stated that the spirit of Narainu Mahant has entered the Shiromani Committee and that these present-day masands are committing disrespect to the Guru, destroying Sikh principles, misusing Sri Akal Takht Sahib, and looting the Golak (offerings), which no Sikh will tolerate. He clarified that this is not police interference in the administration of the Shiromani Committee, but rather a constitutional process to ensure justice for the sacred saroops and to get the guilty punished.

He asked why the Shiromani Committee, which in the past has itself had FIRs registered against accused persons in several incidents, is now trying to protect them. In reality, he said, all this drama is being done to protect Satinder Kohli, about which Giani Harpreet Singh has also clearly spoken in recent days.

Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala, while explaining the role of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, said that Sri Akal Takht Sahib was established by the Sixth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, to provide justice to all—common and elite alike—at a time when people had lost faith in worldly courts. Justice was to be delivered here under divine fear—of Akaal Purakh (God), Allah—according to Sikh principles. Under the principle of “Updesh chahun varnan ko sanjha,” anyone can seek justice here, regardless of caste, religion, or social class. A person working under Sri Akal Takht Sahib does not take decisions under fear of anyone except Akaal Purakh (God/Allah), and does not act to benefit any particular individual, even if that person is a king or ruler. The Sikh Gurus placed sovereignty in the hands of the common people.