Senior Congress leader and MLA Pargat Singh, while addressing a press conference at the Congress Bhawan, alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has completely reneged on its promise to enact a stringent law against sacrilege. He said that after the meeting held at Sri Akal Takht Sahib on June 29, the government had sufficient time to consult all stakeholders, but deliberately chose to convene the Punjab Assembly only after a month, on August 3. He pointed out that Sri Akal Takht Sahib had granted one month’s time for amendments so that Sikh scholars and legal experts could deliberate and recommend necessary changes.
Pargat Singh said that during this period, the government neither constituted an expert committee nor convened an all-party meeting for a comprehensive discussion on this highly sensitive issue. Instead, in its communication to Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the government claimed that amendments had already been made to the proposed law after holding confidential meetings. He termed this an attempt to mislead the people. He also questioned the legal basis on which such provisions were being incorporated into a matter falling under the State List by linking them with the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
He further alleged that instead of pursuing the sacrilege legislation introduced by the Congress government in 2018, the present government failed to implement it under pressure from the BJP. Rather, it has introduced fresh amendments aimed at creating a pathway for interference in the jurisdiction of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). According to him, these changes are contrary to the spirit of the Nehru–Master Tara Singh understanding and would facilitate BJP’s interference in Sikh religious affairs. He alleged that the BJP was orchestrating the entire exercise, while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was merely acting as its instrument.
Pargat Singh said the proposed law should have been framed to ensure stringent punishment for the actual perpetrators of sacrilege. Instead, the government has inserted provisions that may expose the sewadars and custodians responsible for the care and management of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to legal action. He pointed out that those involved in the 2015 sacrilege incidents were neither authorised custodians of the holy saroops nor were they involved in theft; rather, they committed sacrilege as part of a well-planned conspiracy. Instead of ensuring strict punishment for the real culprits, the government has diverted the very purpose of the legislation. He also played a video of Arvind Kejriwal in which he claims that those responsible for sacrilege would be punished.
He further stated that instead of allowing the concerned ministers and the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly to defend the government’s stand on such a serious issue, the government has chosen to put forward newly appointed spokespersons. He questioned why the concerned minister and the Speaker themselves were not coming before the public if the government was genuinely confident about its Bill and its intentions.
Pargat Singh reiterated that the Congress Party firmly supports the strictest possible punishment for those guilty of sacrilege. However, he said no law would be acceptable if it targets religious institutions and those engaged in the service and custody of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji instead of the actual offenders. He demanded that any legislation on this issue should only be enacted after extensive consultations with all stakeholders, obtaining legal opinion from experts, and building broad consensus.
