Sarna opposes fresh law on sacrilege, alleges deal between AAP and Sirsa dera

Jalandhar: Former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Paramjit Singh Sarna has strongly opposed any fresh legislation on incidents of sacrilege involving Guru Granth Sahib, cautioning that such moves risk reducing a deeply spiritual matter into a tool of political calculation if not carried out under religious guidance.He has also said that no key perpetrator has been conclusively prosecuted by the AAP govt in the 2015 sacrilege cases. "The renewed push for stricter laws raises serious questions about intent rather than offering any meaningful solution. The issue is not the absence of law, but the absence of moral clarity and accountability," Sarna said, adding that repeated attempts to legislate on the matter suggest a pattern of political manoeuvring rather than genuine concern for Sikh sentiments.Alleging that no key perpetrator has been conclusively prosecuted by the AAP govt in the 2015 sacrilege cases, Sarna asked, "What prevented Arvind Kejriwal from ordering chief minister Bhagwant Mann to launch concrete prosecution against the Sirsa dera chief Gurmeet Ram Raheem? Clearly, Kejriwal and that convicted criminal struck a political deal." Sarna alleged that elements linked to the Aam Aadmi Party were involved in past sacrilege incidents in Punjab. He argued that the charged environment ultimately benefited Arvind Kejriwal's party in its rise to power in the state. These were part of a larger design to shape political outcomes, he claimed. Referring to the proposed anti-sacrilege legislation, Sarna emphasised that any law touching upon Sikh religious doctrine, Gurbani, or Guru Granth Sahib must not be framed without the consent of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, which he described as the legitimate custodian of Sikh religious affairs. "No govt, irrespective of its mandate, has the authority to unilaterally legislate on matters that define the spiritual core of the Sikh faith," he asserted.Any such measure, he added, must also be carried out under the supervision of the Akal Takht jathedar.Sarna also proposed the formation of a committee comprising leading Sikh academics, legal luminaries, and retired judges to examine the issue in depth. He said such a body should function under the direct supervision of the Akal Takht jathedar to ensure that no aspect of the matter was overlooked and that any course of action remains grounded in both legal rigour and Sikh maryada.MSID: 129863549 413 |