Large Gathering of Sangat at Repentance Ceremony in Sathiala

Amritsar, March 10 – Nazrana Times Bureau

Today, a large number of Sikh organizations and members of the Sikh Sangat gathered at the Gurdwara Sahib in village Sathiala (District Amritsar) during the Bhog ceremony of an Akhand Path Sahib, organized as an act of repentance following the recent incident of desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
According to an earlier decision, Panthic organizations had given the village of Sathiala two days to improve the management of the Gurdwaras, as repeated desecration incidents were attributed mainly to administrative negligence and lack of proper arrangements. The villagers prepared a list of 18 Gurdwaras and recorded the names of the committee presidents, which was considered a positive step toward improving management.
During the meeting held earlier by Panthic organizations, it had been discussed that if management was not improved, the Saroops (holy volumes) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji would be moved to safer locations. However, today the committee members assured the Sangat that they would improve the arrangements, therefore it was decided for the time being that the Saroops would remain there. It was also clarified that if a person who committed a mistake comes forward with repentance, Sikh tradition teaches that such a person should be accepted.
The Sangat expressed concern that for the past 10–15 years, no effective system or regulation has been established to prevent desecration incidents. The main reasons cited were negligence and the lack of proper security at Gurdwaras. To prevent such negligence, continuous day-and-night security, CCTV cameras, and an accountable management structure were declared essential.

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Two important resolutions were passed in today’s gathering:
 

1. The person identified as the accused in the desecration case, being a resident of the same village, should not be granted bail at any level, and the villagers should socially boycott him.
2. If any Sarpanch, Panch, or any other individual comes forward to support his bail, the villagers will also socially boycott that person.

The next Panthic meeting has been scheduled for March 20 in the same village Sathiala, where Sikh organizations will hold a joint meeting to discuss further action and management issues across the state.
All organizations collectively resolved that wherever negligence, mismanagement, or insecurity creates conditions that could lead to desecration in Gurdwaras, they may be compelled to move the Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to safer locations.
The Sangat also expressed deep disappointment that the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, the President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and representatives of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee did not attend today’s gathering, even though the Gurdwara falls under related administrative regulations. The Sangat termed this absence as equivalent to abandoning the community and expressed strong resentment.
It was also announced that if such an incident occurs again in Sathiala or any other place in the future and management is not improved, the Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji will be moved and installed only at places where complete respect, security, and continuous vigilance can be ensured.
On this occasion, Bhai Amrik Singh Ajnala, Bhai Sukhjit Singh Khose, Bhai Gurpreet Singh (Tower Morcha Samana), Bhai Satnam Samsa, Baba Bahor Singh (Damdami Taksal Mehta), Giani Tejbir Singh (student of Damdami Taksal), Bhai Mohan Singh, Bhai Balwinder Singh, Bhai Harish Singh, Bhai Nishan Singh Sialka, along with the members of all the management committees and panchayats of village Sathiala and leaders of various Sikh organizations, were present.