We are not against giving strict punishment to the culprits of beadbi (sacrilege) in the Act but we are demanding removal of the clauses hurting Sikh sentiments :Advocate Dhami
By Amrik Singh
AMRITSAR: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said that we are not against giving strict punishment to the culprits of beadbi (sacrilege) in the Act but we are demanding removal of the clauses hurting Sikh sentiments.
Advocate Dhami said that the government is propagating that with this Act, no accused will be able to escape by saying he is mentally ill, but there is no mention of mental illness anywhere in the Act, This raises serious questions regarding the government’s intentions.
Advocate Dhami was addressing the the meeting of various panthic organizations which was held at Talwandi Sabo to discuss the doubts expressed by the Khalsa Panth regarding the provisions against Sikh sentiments in ‘The Jaagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026’ passed by the Punjab government, today Giani Tek Singh Jathedar Sahib of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib called an important meeting.
In the meeting, a large number of concerned Sikhs and representatives of various institutions and organizations, including SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, Sri Akal Takht Sahib Acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Tek Singh, participated and expressed their views in an open atmosphere.
During the meeting on ‘The Jaagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026’ passed by the Punjab government, various speakers said that the act passed by the government is a direct interference in the religious affairs of the Sikhs and instead of focusing on punishing the persons responsible for incidents of beadbi (sacrilege) cases and providing justice to the Sikhs, it has imposed more responsibility on Sikh institutions, Gurdwara administrators, Sangat, and Granthi Singhs.
He said that we do not want to clash with the government and the government should also understand the Sikh sentiments. He said that this Act of the government is not new but an amendment to the Act of 2008, in which the rights of publication of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were given to the SGPC.
He said that the government had formed a committee to make an act to prevent incidents of sacrilege, the time of that committee was extended, while amendments were made to the existing law without taking anyone's opinion. He said that some of the provisions in the Act will cause Sikh Sangat to break away from Gurbani, which cannot be accepted. He asked the government to change the wording against Sikh sentiments instead of taking a rigid stand.
On this occasion, the acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Singh Sahib Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, spoke and took the government to task. He said that no government can make the rules of the Panth. Singh Sahib also repeated the words of the speakers and said that the government's only purpose is to somehow separate the Panth from the Guru Granth Sahib. He questioned the Chief Minister and said that the Chief Minister is openly lying. The Chief Minister claims that under this law, no accused will escape punishment by claiming mental instability, which proves that he has not read this law.
Recently, a letter going viral on social media claiming that the Punjab government has hired a company that will count the government's achievements and spread propaganda, Singh Sahib also reacted strongly on this issue. Singh Sahib said that as long as there is life in the body, he will continue to fight for the supremacy and dignity of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj said that no such law is acceptable which is made without the will of the Panth.
On this occasion, Singh Sahib Baba Tek Singh said that the interference made by the Punjab government in the internal religious affairs of the Sikhs will never be tolerated. He said that the law passed by the government without taking Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee into confidence seems to be a conspiracy to create obstacles in the way of Sikh preaching. Singh Sahib Ji said that "The matter of dignity and respect for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is an internal matter of the Panth. The government should make laws to give strict punishment to the culprits of beadbi (sacrilege). The government interference in the service, maintenance and propagation of the saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji cannot be accepted."
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