8 months ago
Punjab AAP Faces Backlash Over Sacrilege Law
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab is making a new law to stop people from disrespecting holy religious books.
This law could send people to jail for life if they do such things.
The AAP says they have talked to many people and are making the law very strict.
They also criticized the SGPC president, Harjinder Singh Dhami, for not doing enough to stop these incidents.
The AAP plans to share more details about the cases soon.
Meanwhile, the Akal Takht, a high religious authority for Sikhs, has asked the Punjab Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann, to come and explain himself.
They say he made some disrespectful comments and did some bad things with pictures of Sikh leaders.
The Akal Takht says these actions hurt Sikh feelings.
Mann has to answer to them on January 15, 2026.
Punjab AAP is framing a strict law against sacrilege with life imprisonment as punishment.
The Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025 was tabled in a special session on July 14, 2024.
A committee led by AAP MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar is consulting stakeholders to finalize the law.
AAP criticized SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami for his political affiliations and inaction on past sacrilege incidents.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj summoned Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann for alleged anti-Sikh remarks and actions.
- Who
- Punjab AAP, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami
- What
- Framing a strict law to address sacrilege incidents and summoning of Punjab CM by Akal Takht
- Where
- Punjab, India
- When
- Committee given six months, special session on July 14, 2024, summon on January 15, 2026
- Why
- To prevent sacrilege and ensure strict punishment, and to address alleged anti-Sikh remarks and actions
Key facts
- Bill Name
- The Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025
- Proposed Punishment
- Life imprisonment for sacrilege acts
- Committee Leader
- AAP MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar
- SGPC President
- Harjinder Singh Dhami
- Special Session Date
- July 14, 2024
- Committee Timeframe
- Six months
- Summon Date
- January 15, 2026
- Summon Issuer
- Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj
Timeline
Maharashtra's separate commissions sparked national talk of similar measures.
First select committee meet drafted anti-sacrilege bill, triggering public consultation.
Consultation ended, clearing path for law finalization.
Punjab's Assembly wrapped up consultation, law nearing completion.
AAP in Punjab crafts life imprisonment penalty for religious book sacrilege.
Quotes
Tarunpreet Singh Sond
Punjab's Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister
“Sri Akal Takht Sahib is the supreme institution of the Sikhs, and that every direction issued by the Singh Sahiban is akin to a divine command and is binding on all.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
Akal Takht Jathedar summons Punjab CM for hurting religious sentiments
Strict law being framed to address sacrilege incidents :AAP
Sarabjit Kaur, Punjab woman who married Pakistani man during pilgrimage, set for deportation at Attari-Wagah border today
Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond appears before Sri Akal Takht Sahib
