On December 30, 2023, six Sikh individuals—Harjeet Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Onkar Singh, Manjinder Singh, and Sarwan Singh—were arrested in Qatar during a raid on two local gurdwaras operating without official authorization. During the raid, two copies of the sacred Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) were seized, with one eventually returned and the other still in Qatari custody. The gurdwaras had been established without the necessary licenses, and the individuals were charged with unauthorized religious activities and collecting donations without proper approval.
It is surprising that no major Sikh organizations or even Khalistani leaders have raised concerns about why these highly sacred texts were taken out of India without permission—a clear violation of religious protocol. Instead, some individuals, like Maluk Singh, associated with the UK-based group “Bhai Kanhaiya Humanitarian Aid” (BKHA), have taken to social media to stir up controversy, alleging that the Indian government has been negligent in securing the release of the remaining SGGS copy. The group even organized a protest outside the Qatari Embassy in the UK on August 14, demanding the return of the SGGS. Pro-Khalistan elements in the UK have accused the Indian Embassy in Qatar of not doing enough to address the situation.
This issue is now being exploited by pro-Khalistan elements, who have launched a carefully timed social media campaign to gain traction among the Sikh diaspora. However, opinions within the Sikh community in Qatar are divided. A significant portion of the community is questioning the actions of those who illegally brought the SGGS to Qatar, seeing it as a profound disrespect to their faith.
The controversy was also discussed at length during a live TV program on August 26. Participants in the program condemned the individuals who had taken the SGGS to Qatar without permission, holding them responsible for the ensuing disrespect. The efforts of the Indian Consulate in Qatar to secure the release of the SGGS were praised. The discussion also highlighted the Government of India’s past efforts to safeguard the SGGS, such as its successful retrieval from Afghanistan. The program also recalled incidents where Sikh leaders, like Amritpal Singh of Waris Punjab De, have shown irresponsibility in handling the SGGS, yet faced little criticism from radical Sikh organizations.
The TV program sparked a strong response from the audience, with many callers condemning those responsible for the initial disrespect and acknowledging the efforts of the Government of India. Notably, Sewa Singh Lalli, the self-styled President of Khalistan and member of Bhai Kanhaiya Humanitarian Aid, emphasized how his group had received a positive response from the Indian government. Another caller from the same NGO, Jabar Singh, detailed the Qatar episode and thanked the Government of India for its efforts. The program clearly resonated with ordinary listeners, who expressed their appreciation for the government’s actions.
As a result of the concerted efforts by the Ministry of External Affairs, the remaining copy of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib was released from Qatari custody on August 28 and handed over to the Indian Embassy in Qatar. The Indian government’s efforts, along with the support of the Sikh community, have been widely praised.
