CHANDIGARH, March 28 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday announced a major legislative crackdown on sacrilege, declaring that the state government will significantly strengthen the laws to ensure life imprisonment for those found guilty of the ‘beadbi’ (desecration) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Addressing a massive public gathering in Fatehgarh Sahib, the Chief Minister revealed that a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha has been convened at the holy city of Sri Anandpur Sahib on the occasion of Baisakhi. During this session, the government will move to amend the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008, to incorporate stringent punitive measures.
The Chief Minister asserted that under the proposed legal amendments, anyone attempting to disrespect the holy scripture will face a minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment. Highlighting the gravity of the matter, Mann stated that the state is currently consulting top legal experts and the ‘Sant Samaj’ to ensure the law is foolproof and serves as a powerful deterrent. He emphasized that protecting the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib is a primary duty of his administration, claiming that no previous government had the political will to take such a decisive stand.
Launching a scathing attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Badal family, Chief Minister Mann accused the former regime of being complicit in past sacrilege incidents. He pointed out that tragic events at Kotakpura and Behbal Kalan, where innocent protestors were killed and the holy scripture was disrespected, occurred under the SAD’s watch. Mann alleged that while Sukhbir Singh Badal makes tall claims about his party’s contributions to the state, he remains conveniently silent on the “unpardonable” incidents that took place during their rule, which led to widespread pain and unrest across Punjab.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to justice, the Chief Minister said that while the Badal family may have moved on from these incidents, the people of Punjab will never forget the betrayal. He stated that the AAP government is working tirelessly to fix the legal loopholes that allowed perpetrators to escape in the past. By choosing the historic occasion of Baisakhi and the sacred venue of Sri Anandpur Sahib for the special session, the government aims to send a clear message that the disrespect of religious sentiments will no longer be tolerated in the state.
(UNI)
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