Sri Amritsar-The Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib has received information that recently, some Sikhs from Toronto, Canada, had reached Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Association in Surrey, BC, Canada, to receive sacred birs (scriptures) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. It has been reported that the gurdwara management permitted the sacred birs to be transported to other location without checking the vehicles for compliance with maryada (code of conduct) and ensuring due respect for the Guru Sahib.
Following objections raised by the local sangat, the management brought the sacred birs back and re-enshrined them at the gurdwara. The incident has caused resentment among the Sikh community. Although the gurdwara management subsequently issued an explanation and publicly sought forgiveness from the sangat through social media, as per the directions of Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Association, Surry, BC, Canada, has been directed to submit a written explanation regarding the lapse to the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib within 15 days.
The order further directs the gurdwara management to submit complete details to the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib regarding the sacred birs of Sri Guru Granth Sahib that it has received through the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Sri Amritsar, in the recent past. The Gurdwara management has been asked to clearly state how many of the sacred birs received by it have been provided to the sangat, how many are currently present at the gurdwara, and how many sacred birs are being demanded by the sangat.
Sri Akal Takht Sahib has also directed the entire Sikh sangat in BC, Canada, to remain in reverence of Guru Sahib and cooperate in maintaining an atmosphere of mutual love, goodwill and harmony with the gurdwara management.