Senior diplomat Randhir Jaiswal.
One of the two holy copies of Sri Guru Granth Sahib confiscated by the police in Doha, the capital of Qatar, has been returned with respect. After the objection of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, the Indian Embassy has returned the two holy copies of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
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The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a press release, in which spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said- We have seen reports regarding the seizure of Guru Granth Sahib by Qatari authorities and the demand for its release by the Sikh community. The government has already taken up the matter with the Qatari side and our embassy has apprised the Sikh community in Doha of the developments.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib. (File photo)
Second form of assurance of respect
The spokesperson said, Qatari authorities had taken two copies of Guru Granth Sahib from two persons. They were accused of running a religious establishment without the approval of the Qatar government. Our embassy provided all possible assistance within the ambit of local laws. One copy of the holy book was returned by Qatari authorities and it was assured that the other copy would also be kept with respect.
SGPC had raised the matter
Following the order given by the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the Shiromani Committee had written a letter to the Foreign Minister of India and the Indian Ambassador to Doha, Qatar. Advocate Dhami said that it had come to the notice of Bhai Ghanaiya Humanitarian Aid that a Sikh was arrested by the Doha Police in Qatar in December 2023 and later released. But, the forms recovered from him were confiscated by the police.
SGCP Pradhan had written a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Doha.
The forms are kept at Al Wakrah police station
The SGPC chief said that two holy copies of Shri Guru Granth Sahib were found with the arrested Sikh. The local police administration kept them in the police station. These copies were kept in Al Wakrah police station. This is a great insult to Guru Sahib.
He said that the Sikh arrested in Doha used to worship Guru Sahib privately in Gurdwara Sahib established in his property in Birkat Al-Awamer. He used to interact with local Sikhs as per daily norms, but he was arrested due to the irresponsibility of the Qatar government.
The second version will also be returned soon
Speaker Randhir Jaiswal said that the second form is still in the Qatar police station, but it will be kept with respect. The Ministry of External Affairs will continue to discuss the matter with the Qatar authorities with high priority and hope for a quick solution.