Akal Takht Sahib Presses Punjab Assembly Speaker, Sikh MLAs and Cabinet Ministers Not to Proceed Sacrilege Law Without Panthic Consensus
AMRITSAR: Under the directives of Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, separate letters have been sent to Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh, the Sikh MLAs, and the Sikh Cabinet Ministers of the Punjab Government who had appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib on June 29, 2026.
The letters assign them the religious responsibility of presenting the position of Sri Akal Takht Sahib during the Punjab Vidhan Sabha session commencing on August 3 regarding The Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, and presses them not to allow the legislation to move forward without Panthic consensus.
The letter states that during the Assembly session, the Speaker, Sikh MLAs, and Cabinet Ministers must ensure that no further amendments to the law are approved until the Punjab Government reaches a consensus with Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on the issue..
They have been reminded of their duty as Sikhs and asked to impress upon the Government the need to amend the law in accordance with the Sikh sentiments conveyed by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
In the letter addressed to Speaker Kultar Singh, it has been clarified that the concerns of Sri Akal Takht Sahib are not about the Government or politics, but about the possible misuse of the law in the future. It states that the history of the misuse of laws such as TADA and the UAPA is well known, and there is no guarantee that this law, enacted in the name of preventing sacrilege, will not be used against Sikhs in the future. Therefore, the issue must be viewed impartially and above political considerations.
To facilitate dialogue and build consensus with the Government, Sri Akal Takht Sahib has constituted a committee of Sikh experts comprising Justice (Retired) Rupinder Singh Sodhi, Justice (Retired) Mohinder Mohan Singh Bedi, Senior Advocate Puran Singh Hundal, Sikh scholar Dr Kehar Singh Patiala, Prof Jagmohan Singh Ludhiana, and Additional Secretary of the SGPC's Chandigarh Sub-Office Lakhvir Singh as Coordinator. The Government has been asked to engage with this committee and reach a consensus on the legislation within two months.
The letter states that the path of dialogue remains open from the side of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, but the Government must proceed with sincerity and good faith.
The letter further states that in April 2026, the Punjab Government passed the legislation without seeking the opinion and consensus of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the SGPC, and the Guru Khalsa Panth. During the gathering held at the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib on June 29, 2026, the Five Singh Sahiban had apprised the Sikh MLAs and Cabinet Ministers of the objections and key concerns regarding the legislation, to which they expressed their agreement after offering Ardas. At that time, directions were issued that the Government should, within one month, build consensus with Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the SGPC and make the necessary amendments to the law.
The letter also states that the official reply sent by the Punjab Government through the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, on July 29, 2026, is unsatisfactory and cannot be accepted. It makes clear that the Government is not willing to make further amendments to the legislation in accordance with the objections and key concerns raised by Sri Akal Takht Sahib. It further notes that during the one-month period, the Government neither initiated any dialogue with Sri Akal Takht Sahib nor opened any channel of communication. Of all the suggestions submitted, the Government accepted only one point while ignoring all the remaining objections and merely defended its own position. This has been described as a retreat from the consensus reached at Takht Sahib, an obstinate attitude, and a deceptive act, for which the Khalsa Panth will take serious notice.
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