Surrey, Canada: The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) has expressed concern over the recent controversy involving Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in Surrey and the manner in which the issue is unfolding within the Sikh community.

In a statement issued on September 29, 2026, the WSO said it had reviewed the communication issued by the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and welcomed its emphasis on establishing the facts surrounding the incident. The organization also welcomed the call for the Sikh Sangat in British Columbia and Canada to approach the matter with mutual respect, goodwill and unity.

The WSO said that the utmost Satkaar of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is paramount for Sikhs and that any questions concerning the transportation, handling or care of Saroops must be taken seriously and addressed in accordance with Sikh Maryada.

According to the organization, the episode has raised legitimate questions that deserve thoughtful Panthic discussion, including whether Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji should be transported by sea and what standards of Satkaar and Maryada should apply throughout such a journey.

At the same time, the WSO stressed that discussion surrounding the particular incident in Surrey should be based on facts.

Referring to the incident at Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Surrey, the WSO said that, according to the Gurdwara committee and the video of the incident, the Saroops were never placed inside the vans shown in the video and were not handed over to the individuals who had travelled from Toronto to receive them.

The organization said the Gurdwara had acknowledged that the vehicles should have been inspected before the Saroops were brought outside and had accepted this as an error. However, after the vehicles were inspected and found not to have appropriate arrangements, the Saroops were taken back inside.

The WSO also expressed concern over what it described as misinformation and disinformation circulating around the episode. It said legitimate questions regarding Satkaar and Maryada should not be dismissed and that mistakes, where they have occurred, should be acknowledged and corrected. At the same time, it said allegations should accurately reflect what actually occurred.

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The organization further stated that deeply sensitive issues involving Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji have, in the past, been used by forces seeking to create and exploit divisions among Sikhs in Canada. It urged the community to remain vigilant against efforts to inflame emotions, spread inaccurate information or turn legitimate concerns about Satkaar into conflict and division.

The WSO reiterated the message contained in the concluding paragraph of the communication from Sri Akal Takht Sahib, calling on the Sikh Sangat in British Columbia and Canada to remain guided by respect for Guru Sahib and to work cooperatively with the Gurdwara Sahib’s management to foster an atmosphere of mutual love, goodwill and unity.

The organization said the matter should move forward through dialogue and mutual respect, while allowing space for questions, accountability and improvements to existing practices.

It also called on Sikh institutions, Panthic bodies and the Sangat to come together to establish appropriate standards for the transportation and distribution of Saroops in Canada and North America.

The WSO concluded that the shared commitment to the Satkaar of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji should serve as a source of unity for the Panth rather than becoming an opportunity for divisions to be exploited.