Says news of missing stone/gem are misleading, fallen stone safe
Amritsar, April 10:
Clarifying the misleading information about a fallen stone from nakashi (inset work) of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, Sri Darbar Sahib manager S. Sulakhan Singh and additional secretary S. Partap Singh said it is false propaganda that these stones have gone missing while the truth is these are safe.
Manager S. Sulakhan Singh said that due to moisture a stone had fallen while the washing was being done on April 6 and it was kept safe by the on-duty Farash (attendant). He said that as this stone is part of the heritage of Sri Harmandar Sahib, therefore, it will be placed again during the minakari sewa (inset work in stone service).
S. Sulakhan Singh that this stone has been examined through a firm Praduman Singh Jewellers and then from Indian Gem Stone Lab. “As per their reports, this stone is a common one but it is part of the Sikh heritage as it was engraved at Sri Harmandar Sahib. The purpose behind getting this stone examined was to identify the category of account in which it should be deposited. As if this stone was a diamond or other precious one, it would have been deposited in the account in which the gold jewellery, etc. are kept safe”, said S. Sulakhan Singh.
Clarifying about the firm which conducted the examination of the stone, S. Sulakhan Singh said Praduman Singh Jewellers is run by S. Manjit Singh, who make a big contribution to processing gold from time to time at Sri Harmandar Sahib. He added that as per the address of the firm on their letter pad, earlier, this firm was based in Guru Bazaar but now it has shifted to Race Course Road near Aldakha Hospital in Amritsar. He said the letter issued by the firm regarding this stone is absolutely correct and any person can take information after visiting the present address of this firm.
SGPC’s additional secretary S. Partap Singh said, “The stone which has fallen from nakashi is the heritage of Sri Harmandar Sahib and it will be placed again during the Sewa of Minakari. The sentiments of the Sangat from across the country and world are connected to Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib and any incident related to this shrine affects the minds of the Sikh Sangat.”
S. Partap Singh said some people deliberately present small issues by making them big without any reason in their attempt to tarnish the image of the Sikh body SGPC, and the management of Sri Harmandar Sahib. He added that there has never been any such incident in the past a stones have gone missing from Sri Harmandar Sahib. He cautioned the Sangat to beware of the people who are doing misleading and false propaganda against Sri Harmandar Sahib and the Sikh body.