Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Cheema Challenges New Punjab Congress Chief on Sacrilege Bill
Harpal Singh Cheema, a minister in Punjab, asked Pargat Singh if he supports a bill about sacrilege.
Cheema also asked why Singh had not spoken about drug abuse and sacrilege when he was in the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Cheema said Singh had earlier described different opinions within Congress about the bill.
He also criticized Singh’s work as education and sports minister.
Cheema pointed to a recruitment process for assistant professors that the Supreme Court set aside.
He said the sports budget was very small when Singh had that job.
Singh was recently appointed head of the Punjab Congress after Amrinder Singh Raja Warring resigned.
The report does not include Singh’s response to Cheema’s questions and criticism.
Punjab minister Harpal Singh Cheema asked newly appointed Congress chief Pargat Singh whether he supports the anti-sacrilege bill.
Cheema questioned why Singh did not raise drug abuse and sacrilege issues while he was with the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Cheema said Singh had described differing Congress views on the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Cheema criticized Singh’s record as sports and education minister, including the assistant professor recruitment process and sports budget.
The Congress appointed Singh state party president after Amrinder Singh Raja Warring resigned; Singh previously served with the Akali Dal and Congress.
- Who
- Punjab minister Harpal Singh Cheema questioned newly appointed Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh.
- What
- Cheema challenged Singh on his position on the anti-sacrilege bill and criticized his past record in government.
- When
- The report is dated October 3; it says Singh was appointed on Friday and Cheema spoke on Saturday.
- Where
- Chandigarh, Punjab.
- Why
- Cheema raised questions about Singh’s past political positions and performance as sports and education minister.
Cheema’s criticism
Singh’s position not reported
Support for the anti-sacrilege bill
Cheema’s criticism
Cheema asked Singh to state whether he supports the bill and questioned which Congress faction’s position he represents.
Singh’s position not reported
The report provides no response from Singh or statement of his position.
Past record and political silence
Cheema’s criticism
Cheema alleged Singh did not raise drug abuse or sacrilege issues while the Akali Dal was in power and said he performed poorly as sports and education minister.
Singh’s position not reported
The report does not include Singh’s response to these allegations.
- New state Congress president
- Pargat Singh
- Questioning minister
- Harpal Singh Cheema, Punjab finance minister
- Bill mentioned
- Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- Previous Congress president
- Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, who submitted his resignation
- Assistant professor recruitment
- Cheema said the Supreme Court set aside recruitment of 1,158 assistant professors over rules concerning the selection process.
- Pargat Singh’s electoral history
- He first contested in 2012 on a Shiromani Akali Dal ticket and later won from Jalandhar Cantonment in 2017 and 2022 as a Congress candidate.