‘A welcome step’: Bajwa hails guv assent to anti-sacrilege Bill

Chandigarh: Reacting to the assent given by Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria to ‘The Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill 2026', Punjab's leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa termed it "a welcome step." Bajwa, who put out a post on X, however, added, "But laws mean little without intent and action. If CM @BhagwantMann is serious, this must become a real deterrent against sacrilege—not just another headline."He added, "Punjabis are still waiting for justice. When will the culprits of Bargari, Behbal Kalan & Kotkapura be held accountable? Why was the report of Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh buried without action? @ArvindKejriwal promised to book the guilty within 48 hours—but 48 months have passed."Welcoming the development, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said he hoped that "the Aam Aadmi Party govt will now fulfil its promise to punish the guilty of sacrilege in Behbal Kalan and the subsequent events." In a written statement, he added, "The passing of the act was a delaying tactic by the AAP govt. Now with the governor having granted assent to the law, the AAP is not left with any excuse any more. There are still about nine more months of the govt's tenure left. If the govt really has any sincere intention to punish the guilty, let it make a beginning now."Expressing gratitude to the governor in a social media message, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar wrote: "With this law in place, those committing acts of sacrilege will now face strict punishment. We also hope that the Punjab govt will soon bring the draft law concerning sacrilege of all religions—currently with the select committee—to the Assembly, so that a law can be enacted to prevent such acts across all faiths." Jakhar stated, "With the passage of this law, the way has been cleared to impose strict punishment on those who commit sacrilege against Sri Guru Granth Sahib."He also stated, "A law should also be enacted to prevent sacrilege of consecrated idols and religious texts of all faiths, including Hinduism, as divisive forces have been involved in such condemnable acts in recent times. The govt should present and pass this law in the Assembly at the earliest, as it is a demand being raised by people across all religions." Terming the assent by the governor to the bill as "a decisive step to preserve communal harmony and uphold the sanctity of religious scriptures," Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Sunday, "This legislation marks the fulfilment of a major guarantee made by chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal to the people of Punjab."Addressing a press conference, Cheema said, "While previous govts collaborated to create weak laws that failed to stand legal scrutiny, the Bhagwant Mann Govt has delivered a robust legal framework."Citing the 1986 Nakodar incident and the 2015 Bargari and Behbal Kalan cases, Cheema hit out at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and said, "The history reflects a troubling pattern where incidents of beadbi (sacrilege) occurred during the tenure of the Akali Dal-led govt." He added, "Despite the formation of various commissions and Special Investigation Teams under previous govts, key evidence such as Action Taken Reports went missing and investigation files gathered dust, leaving the culprits and conspirators shielded from the law."Asserting that there was a shift since 2022 after AAP took over in Punjab, he said, "The Bhagwant Mann Govt has worked tirelessly to accelerate investigations that remained stalled for decades. For the first time, high-profile figures who previously enjoyed political protection were forced to seek anticipatory bail from courts."He said, "Every perpetrator, irrespective of social or political stature, will be brought to justice."Cheema said, "The newly enacted law is designed to be comprehensive and watertight, leaving no loopholes for offenders to escape justice. The act not only targets those who physically commit acts of beadbi but also holds the masterminds and conspirators accountable."He added, "Furthermore, the legislation addresses the common defence of ‘mental instability' used to evade prosecution. Under the new provisions, if an individual under the care of a guardian commits such an act, the guardian or custodian can also be held liable for negligence, ensuring a higher level of accountability for the protection of the holy scripture."Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Daljit Singh Cheema, when contacted, said, "This is a good thing. It should now be implemented strictly."Ends MSID:: 130371251 413 |