Akal Takht questions NRIs over PDF file of holy script

Amritsar, September 3

Akal Takht has questioned Canada-based Sikhs Ripudaman Singh Malik and his associate Balwant Singh Pandher about how and from whom they had procured the pen drive having PDF file of Guru Granth Sahib text.

Both of them had published the holy scriptures without obtaining any permission, which had created an uproar among the Sikh community. Akal Takht had given them 15 days to furnish their reply.

After the intervention of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, the NRIs had submitted around 35 copies of the ‘saroops’ of Guru Granth Sahib and the printing machinery with the management of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Surrey, British Columbia. As per directions, the panj pyaras also got the ‘saroops’ inspected before issuing a receipt to Malik and Pandher. Sources said the exercise was done as they feared sacrilege by tampering with the holy text by some mischievous elements.

Canada-based British Columbia Gurdwara Council had issued them a notice for violating the Akal Takht directives by printing Guru Granth Sahib ‘saroops’.

Akal Takht has authorised the SGPC and the DSGMC to have exclusive legal rights to print ‘saroops’, in order to prevent “blasphemous” acts by private publishers. — TNS