*• Agriculture Minister condemns previous "Panthic" Govts for ignoring 1986 Justice Gurnam Singh report and rewarding officials responsible for sacrilege incidents*
*• Also raises alarm over the rising trend of online sacrilege and the deliberate distortion of Gurbani on social media*
Chandigarh, April 13:
Punjab Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian strongly backed the proposed Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which mandates life imprisonment and a hefty fine of up to ₹25 lakh for acts of sacrilege or disrespect towards Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
S. Khudian describing Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as the eternal light, emphasized the community's deep reverence for it. He expressed pain over recurring sacrilege incidents despite the scripture's revered status.
Tracing a painful chronology of unaddressed grievances, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian recalled the sacrilege incidents of 1986 when a so-called Panthic government was in power. He expressed deep anguish that the Justice Gurnam Singh report was subsequently ignored and buried.
In a sharp critique of previous regimes, S. Khudian alleged that officials who were complicit or negligent during sacrilege cases were later rewarded by so-called Panthic government. What is more disgraceful? An IAS and a IPS officer responsible for the 1986 incident, were later given plum posts. Under the SAD government, such people were protected.
The Agriculture Minister then turned to the 2015 sacrilege incidents at Bargari, Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan. “Sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were stolen, desecrated. When the Sangat rose in protest, the then Deputy Chief Minister got roads cleared, and firing was ordered on peaceful protesters. Those officers were later rewarded. These repeated incidents are unbearable for every follower of Guru Nanak, not just Sikhs but millions who revere the eternal light,” he stated.
“Earlier, the punishment was negligible. Perpetrators got bail easily and walked free. No one took the law seriously. Now, with life imprisonment and a Rs 25 lakh fine, even those who harbour evil intentions will think twice. The fear of this law will protect the sanctity of our Guru,” he said.
Raising concern over rising online and social media sacrilege, where Gurbani words are deliberately distorted or disrespected., S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian stated, “Every time a word of the Guru is twisted, it deeply wounds millions. Such acts also disturb public peace and harmony. This law will put a stop to that cycle of hate.” He also made an emotional appeal to the entire House to pass it unanimously as our shared faith, our shared peace, and Punjab’s harmony and peace depend on this. This law will write a new chapter of justice, peace and insaaf in Punjab.
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