Surrey (Canada): The British Columbia Gurdwaras Council, Ontario Gurdwaras Committee and Quebec Sikh Council have jointly written to Jathedar Bhai Kuldeep Singh Gargaj of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, seeking immediate intervention and clear action over concerns related to the care, respect and maryada of the sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
In the joint letter, dated September 22, 2026, the three Sikh organizations expressed serious concern over a matter linked to Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha on 132 Street in Surrey.
According to the letter, during June 2026, the gurdwara management arranged for 225 sacred saroops to be transported to Canada in a container. The organizations alleged that five Singhs were not present for seva during the transportation and that the sacred saroops were not handled in accordance with the required maryada.
The letter further stated that the sacred saroops remained inside the container at sea for several months. The organizations said this deeply hurt the sentiments of the Sikh Sangat and led to widespread criticism of the manner in which the transportation was carried out.
The British Columbia Gurdwaras Council, Ontario Gurdwaras Committee and Quebec Sikh Council said they had previously issued public statements on the matter and had also submitted written requests to Sri Akal Takht Sahib seeking action. According to them, no clear decision or action has yet been made public.
The letter also referred to another video that surfaced on September 20, 2026. According to the organizations, the video showed sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji being transported in the rear section of a van, where a mattress had been placed. Shoes, food items, garbage and other materials were also allegedly present in the same area.
The organizations further claimed that the sacred saroops were being sent to different cities in the United States and Canada, including Toronto. They described this method of transportation as a clear violation of Sikh Rehat Maryada.
Related News: Issue of Transporting Saroops via Container to Surrey (Canada): Sangat Renews Demand for Concrete Action
A large gathering of the Sangat was also held in Surrey on September 21, 2026, in connection with the issue. According to the letter, several demands were raised during the gathering. The three organizations expressed support for the concerns and demands raised by the local Sangat and called for an impartial investigation, along with full transparency regarding the facts of the case.
The organizations put forward three main demands in their letter. First, they sought complete and verifiable information regarding all 225 sacred saroops, including where each saroop had been sent, how many were currently present in gurdwaras and where the remaining saroops were intended to be sent.
Second, they demanded that all remaining sacred saroops be handed over to gurdwaras identified by the Sangat, where they could be cared for with full respect and in accordance with Sikh maryada.
Third, the organizations called upon the management committee, Granthi Singhs and responsible sevadars to openly apologize before the Sangat.
The letter also stated that the apology issued by the management and sevadars of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha was, in the view of the three organizations, incomplete and did not fully reflect the actual circumstances of the matter. They maintained that the three demands outlined above still remained unfulfilled.
The British Columbia Gurdwaras Council, Ontario Gurdwaras Committee and Quebec Sikh Council urged Sri Akal Takht Sahib to intervene immediately and ensure proper seva and care of the sacred saroops.
The letter said that the involvement of Sri Akal Takht Sahib could also help prevent further escalation of concerns and emotions among the local Sangat. It further called for strict guidelines to be issued to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Concluding the letter, the organizations stated that Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is at the centre of Sikh life and that any negligence in the handling of the sacred saroops causes deep hurt to the sentiments of the Sikh community.
They appealed for immediate and clear action to help strengthen the Sangat’s trust and ensure that the sacred saroops are treated with the highest level of respect and maryada.
Read the Joint Letter Regarding the Sacred Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Read the Full Statement Issued by Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Association on the Surrey Saroops Issue
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