Punjab Assembly Speaker Meets Akal Takht Over Controversial Anti-Sacrilege Law
Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan appeared before the Sri Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar to address concerns regarding the newly enacted Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026. Summoned by acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, Sandhwan defended the legislation, which mandates life imprisonment and heavy fines for sacrilege against the holy scripture. He refuted claims by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) that the Sikh community was excluded from the drafting process, citing public consultations via newspapers and digital channels. Sandhwan emphasized that stricter laws were necessary as previous regulations allowed offenders to secure bail prematurely. The political tension escalated as Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann alleged that SGPC leadership opponents were motivated by their involvement in past sacrilege cases. Meanwhile, Sandhwan expressed support for state AAP president Aman Arora amidst ongoing Enforcement Directorate searches. The incident highlights the complex intersection of religious authority, legislative action, and regional politics in Punjab.
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Punjab Assembly Speaker Meets Akal Takht Over Controversial Anti-Sacrilege Law
Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan appeared before the Sri Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar to address concerns regarding the newly enacted Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026. Summoned by acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, Sandhwan defended the legislation, which mandates life imprisonment and heavy fines for sacrilege against the holy scripture. He refuted claims by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) that the Sikh community was excluded from the drafting process, citing public consultations via newspapers and digital channels. Sandhwan emphasized that stricter laws were necessary as previous regulations allowed offenders to secure bail prematurely. The political tension escalated as Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann alleged that SGPC leadership opponents were motivated by their involvement in past sacrilege cases. Meanwhile, Sandhwan expressed support for state AAP president Aman Arora amidst ongoing Enforcement Directorate searches. The incident highlights the complex intersection of religious authority, legislative action, and regional politics in Punjab.
The Indian Express