Chandigarh, March 22: Punjab government is set to introduce a comprehensive anti-sacrilege law during a special assembly session on April 13. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that the upcoming amendments to the Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act will ensure that no culprit involved in the desecration of sacred scriptures is spared from strict justice.
Addressing a gathering of religious leaders and sect heads at the Circuit House in Amritsar, the Chief Minister affirmed that the new law will be one of the most stringent in the country. Key features of the proposed bill include heavy financial penalties and the confiscation of assets belonging to the accused, alongside traditional imprisonment.
The Chief Minister invited various religious groups, including the Nihang Singhs, Taksals, and Kar Seva groups, to witness the passage of the act. He noted that the government has been working with sincerity to address the long-standing demands of the Sant Samaj regarding the protection of religious sentiments.
“If anyone attempts to hurt our faith through desecration, they will never be forgiven,” the Chief Minister asserted in a statement following the meeting. He maintained that the sacred Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is regarded as the “Shabad Guru,” providing teachings of truth and humanity that must be guarded by law.
The state government also intends to fast-track pending cases related to sacrilege to ensure timely justice. Leaders of the Sant Samaj expressed their gratitude for the administration’s decision to grant holy city status to Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, and Talwandi Sabo, while emphasizing the need for this historic legal reform to protect religious harmony in Punjab.
