More than four decades after former President Giani Zail Singh appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib following Operation Blue Star, his grandson and Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Monday presented himself before the Akal Takht Secretariat along with Sikh MLAs and Cabinet ministers over the controversy surrounding the Punjab government’s amended sacrilege law.
The development marks a rare moment in Sikh history, making the Sandhwan family one of the few political families whose two generations have separately faced proceedings before Sri Akal Takht Sahib. While Giani Zail Singh was summoned in the aftermath of the 1984 military operation at the Golden Temple, Sandhwan appeared in connection with objections raised by the Akal Takht over the Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026.
Sandhwan also became the first sitting Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly to appear before the Akal Takht Secretariat after being summoned by the Sikh temporal authority.
The Sikh clergy had directed Sikh legislators and ministers of the Punjab government to explain why they supported the amended legislation despite objections that some of its provisions allegedly interfere with the traditional authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Sikh religious institutions.
According to Sikh religious leaders, concerns over the amended law were first conveyed to the Punjab Assembly after the Bill was passed on April 13 this year. They maintained that despite seeking corrective measures, the objections remained unaddressed, prompting the Akal Takht to summon Sikh ministers and legislators for an explanation.
The appearance of Sandhwan has revived memories of an important chapter in Sikh political history. In the aftermath of Operation Blue Star in 1984, Giani Zail Singh, then President of India and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, was summoned by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, where questions were raised over his constitutional and moral responsibility during the military operation.
The Sandhwan family now joins the Badal family among the few political families whose members have appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib on separate occasions. Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had earlier appeared before the Akal Takht following the 1978 Sikh-Nirankari clash, while his son and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was declared ‘Tankhaiya’ by Sri Akal Takht Sahib in August 2024 in connection with sacrilege-related issues.
The institution has, over the decades, summoned several prominent political figures. Historical records also mention Maharaja Ranjit Singh accepting religious punishment after being summoned by Akali Phula Singh. Former Union Home Minister Buta Singh and former Punjab Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala also underwent religious proceedings before Sri Akal Takht Sahib in separate cases.
More recently, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was summoned by the Akal Takht Secretariat over a controversial video and was later declared a “Panth Dokhi” by the Sikh temporal authority.
The latest proceedings involving Sandhwan and other Sikh legislators are linked to the ongoing dispute over the amended sacrilege law, with Sri Akal Takht Sahib maintaining that legislation affecting Sikh religious traditions should be framed only after consultation with Panthic institutions and should not dilute the authority of the Sikh temporal seat.