Opposition to the shipment of more than 200 saroops (birs) of Guru Granth Sahib to Canada through sea cargo intensified on Monday, with protests in Amritsar and fresh demands from Sikh organisations in Canada for an independent inquiry into the matter.Members of the Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee, led by Balbir Singh Muchhal, burnt an effigy of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami at Golden Gate in Amritsar. The protesters alleged that transporting the holy saroops in commercial shipping containers amounted to disrespect towards Guru Granth Sahib.Related news: SGPC: Guru Granth Sahib saroops shipped to Canada with rehat maryadaAddressing the gathering, Muchhal said the saroops should be sent overseas with full religious dignity and reverence. He demanded an inquiry into the decision to transport the sacred scriptures by sea cargo.Meanwhile, the IndUS Canada Foundation (ICF) also expressed concern over the transportation of more than 200 saroops to Canada through commercial shipping containers and urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to order a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the matter.In a letter to the Chief Minister following a virtual meeting with representatives of 16 Sikh gurdwaras from California, British Columbia, Ontario, New York and London, ICF president Vikram Bajwa said the issue had caused widespread anguish among Sikhs and NRIs across the world. He said several Sikh organisations in Canada and the United States had objected to the reported transportation of the sacred saroops by sea on a voyage lasting several weeks instead of by air, which they believe would have ensured greater dignity and care.Dilbagh Sandhu, joint secretary of Fairfield Sikh Temple in California, also urged the Punjab Government to constitute a high-level independent inquiry to ascertain all facts surrounding the transportation of the saroops and examine whether Sikh religious protocols and administrative procedures prescribed by the SGPC and the Akal Takht were followed.He further said the implementation of the recently enacted Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2026, should go beyond penal provisions and strengthen institutional mechanisms to ensure the dignified transportation, handling, preservation and sanctity of Guru Granth Sahib, both in India and abroad.