Jathedar gives 15-day ultimatum to remove ‘objectionable’ clauses in anti-sacrilege law

Amritsar: Akal Takht officiating jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj has demanded the removal of "contentious provisions" in the Jaagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, within 15 days, warning that failure to comply could lead to a formal meeting of the five Sikh high priests and strict Panthic action.The ultimatum followed a meeting with Punjab assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, who appeared before the Akal Takht secretariat on Friday. Sandhwan had been summoned to explain why the anti-sacrilege law was passed without the consent of the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). According to a release, Giani Gargajj informed Sandhwan that the govt must remove provisions that undermine the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Khalsa Panth, and sentiments of the Guru Nanak Naam Leva Sikh Sangat. These clauses, he said, were incorporated without consulting Sikh institutions. "The Khalsa Panth can never tolerate this. While there may be laws for those accused of sacrilege, no law can be imposed upon the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Sangat, and the sewadars," the jathedar said. He maintained that the law is unacceptable and the govt should not forcibly impose it upon the Sikh community. The jathedar further argued that the "objectionable clauses" have created a climate of fear among ordinary Sikhs and could distance them from the holy scriptures, terming the development conspiratorial. He slammed the mandate to publish information on the SGPC website regarding people who possess sacred birs of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. "This will expose the personal information of devout Sikhs, which could be misused by anti-Sikh forces and mischievous elements," he warned. Regarding record-keeping, the jathedar said the SGPC already has a proper arrangement in place. On his directions, SGPC officials took Sandhwan to Gurdwara Sri Ramsar Sahib, where they briefed him on the publication department's functions and demonstrated existing record-keeping protocols. Giani Gargajj told Sandhwan that the Akal Takht would provide the Punjab govt with a panel of Sikh legal experts and judges to facilitate discussions and build consensus. He said until the Akal Takht and the SGPC grant approval, the Khalsa Panth will not accept the legislation. Sandhwan said as the matter pertains to the state govt, he would initiate internal discussions, according to the release. Later, Giani Gargajj told the media that the draft amendment was prepared on the night of April 11 and passed by April 13. He accused the govt of avoiding its responsibility to make the draft public in Punjabi and failing to seek objections from the Sangat and relevant institutions. He said the amendment was pushed through secretly, with no draft ever sent to the Akal Takht or the SGPC.