MEA in talks with Qatar over confiscation of Guru Granth Sahib: Spokesperson

New Delhi, Aug 23: The Indian government is closely monitoring the situation involving the confiscation of two Swaroops of Guru Granth Sahib in Qatar, according to an official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.

Responding to media inquiries, Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson, confirmed that the government has taken up the matter with Qatari authorities and is in regular contact with the Sikh community in Doha.

"We have seen reports regarding the Guru Granth Sahib seized by the Qatari authorities and the demand of their release by the Sikh community. Government has already taken up the matter with the Qatar side and our Embassy has kept the Sikh community in Doha abreast of developments in this regard,” Jaiswal stated.

The controversy arose when Qatari authorities confiscated two Swaroops of Guru Granth Sahib from individuals accused of operating a religious establishment without the approval of the Qatari government.

"Our Embassy provided all possible assistance within the scope of local laws and regulations," Jaiswal added. He noted that one Swaroop has been returned, and assurances have been given that the other Swaroop is being treated with respect.

The Ministry of External Affairs continues to prioritize the resolution of this issue and remains hopeful for a prompt resolution, he said.

The incident has sparked widespread concern among Sikh leaders.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president, Harjinder Singh Dhami has urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Indian Ambassador to Qatar to intervene for the release of the confiscated Swaroops.

Dhami expressed that keeping the sacred texts in a police station is a sign of disrespect that the community cannot tolerate.

Media reported that Dhami highlighted that the Sikh man from whom the Swaroops were confiscated had been practicing his faith privately in a gurdwara established within his property in Birkat Al-Awamer, in compliance with Qatar's strict regulations on public worship of non-Islamic faiths.

Despite the man's release from custody, the Swaroops remain in Al Wakara police station. The SGPC president also called for the reinstallation of the Swaroops in their original location and appealed for the establishment of gurdwaras in Qatar, similar to those allowed in other Islamic countries like the UAE.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also raised the issue with Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar, emphasising the need for Sikhs in Qatar to have the freedom to practice their religion in dedicated gurdwaras.

The Sikh community in Qatar has been practicing the 'Prakash' (installing the Guru Granth Sahib) for nearly 35 years at two locations in Doha, and the recent confiscation has left them perturbed.