India takes up with Qatar seizure of two ‘saroops’ of Guru Granth Sahib

New Delhi, August 23

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said it has taken up with the Qatar government reports of seizure of two ‘saroops’ of the Guru Granth Sahib.

“One saroop has been returned by the Qatari authorities and we have been assured that the other is being kept with respect,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. He said: “We had seen reports regarding the seizure of saroops of the Guru Granth Sahib by the Qatari authorities and the demand of their release by the Sikh community”.

Jaiswal said: “The two saroops were seized by the authorities from two individuals/groups who were charged with running a religious establishment without approval of the Qatar government.”

“Our embassy has kept the Sikh community in Doha abreast of developments in this regard,” he said.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said: “We are thankful to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for taking prompt action on our submission. Now, we look forward to return of the second saroop from the Doha police soon.”

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee general secretary Jagdip Singh Kahlon said the action of Qatar authorities had hurt sentiments of the Sikh community. Earlier, Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Vikram Sahney said the two ‘saroops’ were seized by the Qatar Police and kept at the Alwakrah police station in Doha.

Sahney said he had raised the issue with the EAM and the Indian Ambassador to Qatar.