All 78 Sikh legislators in the 117-member Punjab Assembly, including nine Cabinet ministers led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as well as Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwa, on Monday appeared before the Akal Takht in connection with the amended anti-sacrilege law, which got implemented without proper consultation with it and other ‘panthic’ bodies.
Notably, the Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, was passed by the Assembly on April 13, followed by the Governor’s assent.
Prior to meeting the lawmakers, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj told mediapersons that the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Sataar Act – enacted in 2008 – was amended and unanimously passed after bypassing the Akal Takht and Sikh institutions, IANS reported.
He said that the state government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has come in between the Guru and the Sikh by passing this Act.
Attacking the Bhagwant Mann-led government over an anti-sacrilege law, SAD leader Bikram Majithia said, “When this Act was being formulated, the Jathedar Sahab of Sri Akal Takht Sahib had issued explicit directives and an edict.”
He added that if any such Bill or Act regarding the matter of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Maharaj needs to be created, then “it must be drafted only after obtaining the approval of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, other Sikh institutions, and the entire Guru Nanak Naam Leva Sangat (the global Sikh congregation), so that nothing is left out.”
The anti-sacrilege Bill proposed amendments to the original Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act-2008, providing stringent punishments. It was tabled in the Vidhan Sabha by Bhagwant Mann during a special one-day session on April 13 in order to deter incidents of sacrilege and uphold the sanctity of the Guru Granth Sahib.