Akal Takht Demands Removal of Objectionable Provisions from Punjab Anti-Sacrilege Law
The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikh authority, has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Punjab government to remove specific provisions from the recently amended anti-sacrilege law. Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj stated that these clauses offend the Guru Granth Sahib, the Khalsa Panth, and Sikh sentiments by placing religious entities and individuals under a legal framework akin to accused persons. This demand followed a clause-by-clause review meeting with Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan. While the Speaker defended the stringent penalties, including life imprisonment, as necessary to prevent bail for convicts, the Akal Takht argued the law constitutes direct government interference in Sikh internal affairs. Additionally, the Jathedar criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s ‘Shukrana Yatra’ as a political challenge to religious authority. Significant objections were raised against a clause requiring the public disclosure of holders of sacred Guru Granth Sahib volumes, citing privacy risks and potential misuse by anti-Sikh elements. The Akal Takht emphasized that while strict punishment for sacrilege is acceptable, the current legislative approach creates fear within the community and lacks adequate consultation with Sikh institutions.
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Akal Takht Demands Removal of Objectionable Provisions from Punjab Anti-Sacrilege Law
The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikh authority, has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Punjab government to remove specific provisions from the recently amended anti-sacrilege law. Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj stated that these clauses offend the Guru Granth Sahib, the Khalsa Panth, and Sikh sentiments by placing religious entities and individuals under a legal framework akin to accused persons. This demand followed a clause-by-clause review meeting with Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan. While the Speaker defended the stringent penalties, including life imprisonment, as necessary to prevent bail for convicts, the Akal Takht argued the law constitutes direct government interference in Sikh internal affairs. Additionally, the Jathedar criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s ‘Shukrana Yatra’ as a political challenge to religious authority. Significant objections were raised against a clause requiring the public disclosure of holders of sacred Guru Granth Sahib volumes, citing privacy risks and potential misuse by anti-Sikh elements. The Akal Takht emphasized that while strict punishment for sacrilege is acceptable, the current legislative approach creates fear within the community and lacks adequate consultation with Sikh institutions.
The Indian Express