Religious Boundaries
Punjab's latest anti-sacrilege law has reopened an old wound, but the debate it has triggered is no longer confined to the punishment of those who desecrate the Guru Granth Sahib.
Punjab's latest anti-sacrilege law has reopened an old wound, but the debate it has triggered is no longer confined to the punishment of those who desecrate the Guru Granth Sahib.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) alleged that former Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh violated the Takht's hukamnama, which prohibits using the proceedings of the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs in court-related matters.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday demanded an immediate resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stating that the latter had lost all moral authority to continue in the chair after participating in the special Vidhan Sabha session proceedings in an inebriated state.
A senior official’s death has triggered a political storm in Punjab, leading to a minister’s resignation and a government-ordered probe into the allegations surrounding the case.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today appealed to Punjabis to beware of agencies that might introduce a new entrant into the electoral fray in Punjab and even support the new political outfit, in the same manner as certain individuals were propped up during the 2024 parliamentary elections to weaken the SAD ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls.
The SAD also announced that it would approach the State Governor and appeal to him to take action in the matter, in addition to pursuing legal remedies.
In a request to the SEC, senior SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said the present polling deadline between 8 am and 4 pm was woefully short. “The restricted timings will prevent poor families, farmers and daily wagers from exercising their democratic right, ultimately reducing overall voter turnout.
This bypoll was seen as a crucial test for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the AAP that had won five of the six bypolls held in the state since it came to power in March 2022.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has urged both the Union and Punjab governments to stop politicizing the issue of ration cards and to ensure justice for all eligible beneficiaries under the Atta Dal scheme. The party asserted that the scheme has effectively turned into an “Atta without Dal” scheme.
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Wednesday conducted raids at the residence of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia in Amritsar. The raids were reportedly conducted in connection with a disproportionate assets case.
