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.
"As now the Lufthansa Airlines has itself clarified that it is frivolous reports, Sukhbir Badal and Partap Bajwa should tender a public apology,” said AAP's Punjab spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang. SAD and Congress leaders had alleged that the chief minister deplaned at Frankfurt airport in an inebriated state.
Badal said that bribery allegations the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made could only be verified by an independent inquiry by the CBI or the high court and that no purpose could be served by calling a special session of the Assembly.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal has levelled serious allegations against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and asked him to clarify media reports of him.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia said the party would file a complaint with the Chandigarh Police tomorrow seeking a thorough probe into the entire case.
Pointing out that Congress president Sonia Gandhi is facing an Enforcement Directorate probe, AAP leader and Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the Congress is afraid of uttering anything against the BJP to save her.
