Sangrur/Fatehgarh Sahib, May 9 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday asserted that the anti-sacrilege law will neither be withdrawn nor diluted, claiming it has garnered overwhelming backing from the ‘Sangat’ across the world.
Mann reiterated that the Punjab government remained fully committed to protecting the sanctity and respect of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and all religious scriptures.
The Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was unanimously passed by Punjab Assembly on April 13. It has the provision of stricter punishment, including life imprisonment for any act of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib.
Mann on Wednesday started a four-day ‘Shukrana Yatra’ after implementation of the anti-sacrilege law which concluded on Saturday.
He had embarked on the ‘Shukrana Yatra’ on Wednesday with religious fervour after paying obeisance at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Sri Anandpur Sahib.
Mann said the recently enacted anti-sacrilege law was introduced solely to ensure strict punishment for those attempting to hurt religious sentiments and disturb peace.
The law has received overwhelming support from the Sangat across the world, he said.
In a veiled attack on the Badals, he alleged that only “one particular family” was opposing the legislation.
“Those claiming that the Panth has rejected this law must explain why millions are supporting it,” he asserted, adding that certain vested political interests were trying to mislead people for narrow gains and create unnecessary confusion around the legislation.
Making his government’s position clear, the CM asserted that the anti-sacrilege law had already come into force after due constitutional process.
“The Governor has granted assent to the Act. There is no question of withdrawing or rolling back this law,” he said.
Mann stated that the legislation was enacted after a long-standing public demand and there could be no compromise on protecting the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
The CM further pointed out that protests and demonstrations had continued for nearly one-and-a-half years demanding a stricter anti-sacrilege law.
He noted that some Sikh intellectuals and scholars opposing the law today had themselves earlier demanded stringent legislation against sacrilege incidents.
He also recalled that in July 2007, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had itself passed a resolution authorising the government to enact legislation for the protection and respect of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Questioning the opposition’s changing stand, Mann asked how those who had earlier supported legislative intervention were now claiming that the government could not enact such a law.
He noted that such leaders are trying to run a “parallel authority” and politicising a sensitive religious issue.
Mann thanked the people of Punjab for showering immense love and affection during the four-day-long ‘Shukrana Yatra’, which culminated at the sacred land of Fatehgarh Sahib.
He said, “Punjabis are extremely happy over his Government enacting the ‘Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026’, which stipulates stringent punishment for beadbi.” Mann said previous governments neither had the intent nor the will to enact a law to stop “beadbi” due to which desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib became a recurring feature during their regimes.
“Now as this historic Act has been passed it will put an end to this unpardonable offence because no one will dare indulge in such acts again,” he asserted. PTI SUN NB NB
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