Patiala, June 27: Those who shielded the perpetrators of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji sacrilege over the last 15 years cannot be forgiven by the community and will face strict imprisonment, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann declared on Friday. During a Lok Milni gathering at village Gajewas in Patiala, the Chief Minister stated that the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 has been specifically enacted to ensure deterrent punishment for anyone involved in the crime of sacrilege.
The Chief Minister asserted that traditional political parties are attempting to mislead the public through false narratives because they realize the new legislation leaves no legal loopholes for the guilty. He maintained that opposition leaders are reacting out of political frustration due to the substantial public support received by the current administration during village interactions.
“This is why these people and their stooges are now opposing the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 because they know that they will be nailed for their sins. These leaders will have to pay for their sins and they will soon be behind bars,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted.
The Chief Minister shared that the state government is focused on citizen-centric development, directing public funds into schools, hospitals, and rural infrastructure. Over 90% of households are currently receiving free electricity, canal water usage for irrigation has risen above 80%, and more than 68,000 youth have secured government employment based entirely on merit.
During the event, the Chief Minister presented a ₹51 lakh development grant to the local Sarpanch, reaffirming the state’s focus on universal healthcare and financial empowerment for women. He noted that the newly launched Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna has already provided free medical treatments worth over ₹650 crore to residents.
“Our government has drafted this Bill carefully so that no future amendments or loopholes will weaken it. This Bill will act as a deterrent for anti-social elements to indulge in any such sin in future and no one will ever be able to indulge in this heinous crime. Earlier, people escaped the gallows by saying that ‘their mind is disturbed’ or ‘he is mentally ill’, and the accused would walk free,” the Chief Minister stated.
The Chief Minister concluded by announcing that under the upcoming Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, eligible women will receive direct financial assistance transfers starting July 1. The initiative is designed to support nearly 97% of women in the state, ensuring that the wealth of Punjab is utilized transparently for its citizens.
