Amritsar, May 8: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann paid obedience at the Sri Harmandir Sahib on Thursday showing gratitude following the enactment of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026, stating that passage of the bill will shield the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
While talking to media in Amritsar, the Chief Minister stated that the law was a necessary response to past incidents of desecration. “Earlier deliberate sacrilege attempts tarnished the social fabric of Punjab,” he said.
“The act was developed alongside top legal minds to ensure it remains a formidable deterrent against future crimes.”
“Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is like a father to every Sikh and it is our collective duty to protect its sanctity,” the Chief Minister asserted.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has launched a multi-city “Shukrana Yatra” to mark the passage of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026, making a significant stop at Sri Harmandir Sahib on Thursday. The Chief Minister noted that the legislation is designed to deliver exemplary punishment to those who attempt to disturb the communal harmony of Punjab through acts of sacrilege.
During his address, the Chief Minister affirmed that the state government is privileged to have passed such historic legislation. He stated that the act is the result of a unanimous decision by the Punjab Assembly and the Cabinet, aimed at ending a cycle of conspiracies intended to incite social unrest.
“Our Government is fortunate to have received the responsibility of passing such a historic legislation, which would help prevent such heinous incidents in the future,” the Chief Minister stated.
The Chief Minister noted that the new legal framework provides for life imprisonment until death, a move he declared would act as a permanent deterrent. He affirmed that the law has received widespread global acclaim from the Sikh diaspora, though he pointed out that some segments of the Shiromani Committee leadership remain critical of the move.
The yatra is scheduled to travel across the state, visiting Damdama Sahib, Mastuana Sahib, and Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib before concluding at Sri Fatehgarh Sahib. The Chief Minister maintained that the primary objective of this journey is to acknowledge the divine support that allowed his administration to fulfill this duty to the public.
In his closing remarks, the Chief Minister declared that the government remains committed to protecting the dignity of religious scriptures. He asserted that no individual would dare to commit such an unpardonable offense under the shadow of the newly established legal consequences.
