Chandigarh, Apr 9 (PTI) Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Thursday asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to make the copy of the draft anti-sacrilege law public and take people, all political parties, and religious organisations into confidence.
The AAP government has convened a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on April 13 to amend the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008. The amendment will ensure stricter punishment against sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and other religious texts.
In a letter to Mann, Jakhar wrote that since amendments to the 2008 Act are now being discussed, it is very important that the draft of these amendments be made available in advance to recognised political parties, members of the Legislative Assembly, and concerned religious institutions.
“This would ensure that broad public opinion is considered for a serious, logical and constitutional discussion on this sensitive issue,” Jakhar said.
He emphasised that the matter is not merely legal, but is also deeply connected with social sensitivity and religious faith.
The BJP state resident further stated that on July 14, 2025, the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025 was introduced in the Punjab Legislative Assembly.
This Bill was referred for detailed consideration to a 15-member select committee constituted under the leadership of former minister and MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar.
“Therefore, it is necessary that the report of this committee be made public and copies be provided to political parties, MLAs, and religious organisations,” he said.
Now, when the Punjab government is considering bringing a new bill or amending the existing Act regarding sacrilege cases, it is extremely important — keeping in view the seriousness and sensitivity of the issue — that transparency in the law-making process is ensured, the BJP leader said.
The opinions of the general public, religious institutions, and all political stakeholders must be included, and MLAs should be given the opportunity to fulfill their constitutional role based on complete information.
“In a responsible democratic system, it is our constitutional and moral duty to thoroughly study any such sensitive Bill before deliberation. Therefore, the complete draft of the Bill or the proposed amendments to be introduced in the Legislative Assembly on April 13, 2026, must be made available in advance,” he further wrote. PTI CHS PRK
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