Guru Granth Sahib to have QR Codes; India Ignores Sikh Prisoners Demand

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has announced that Guru Granth Sahib ‘saroops’ (tome) will henceforth have QR (quick-response) codes on them. During the meeting chaired by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, it was decided that from now onwards, every holy ‘saroop’ printed by the SGPC would have QR coding to register their count, authentication and other related information. ‘Effort will also be made ahead to cover those holy saroops as well which are presently available in different Gurdwaras and with the sangat (community) at their homes,’ said Dhami. This is a good step to prevent misappropriation of the saroops. Dhami also said employees of SGPC and its related institutions can avail a maximum foreign leave of two years in their entire service tenure. A decision has been taken to construct a campus for the Nishchay Civil Services Training Academy being run by SGPC in Chandigarh to prepare Sikh youth for India and Panjab civil services and other competitive exams. This building will be constructed at Gurdwara Sahib Bagh Shaheedan, Sector 44, Chandigarh. On 17 Apr, SGPC admitted it had failed to get the PM’s attention on its demand of releasing the Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners) but has decided to continue to pursue the cause. Dhami reiterated the demand as one of the ten resolutions passed by the SGPC general house in its budget meeting last month (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 14, Story 5). Following the breakdown of its talks with the BJP about an alliance in the forthcoming general Indian elections, the issue will likely take center stage in the SAD campaign this election in June in Panjab and SGPC elections expected later this year.