‘Service entrusted by Guru Sahib himself’: Bhagwant Mann on enacting new anti-sacrilege law

Batala: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday described enactment of the state govt's latest anti-sacrilege legislation as a "service" entrusted to him by "Guru Sahib himself".Speaking during an anti-drug awareness programme at Sachkhand Nanak Dham, Mann termed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act, 2026 a "historic law"."I am nobody to pass this Act. God assigns such responsibilities only to those chosen for it, and I am simply a humble servant entrusted with this duty," Mann said.He added that he did not see himself as the architect of the legislation, but merely a "medium chosen for the service".Referring to past sacrilege incidents in Punjab, Mann alleged that such acts were part of a larger conspiracy aimed at disturbing peace, communal harmony and brotherhood in the state.The chief minister also reiterated his govt's resolve to eliminate drugs from Punjab, claiming that the ongoing "Yudh Nashean Virudh" campaign had dealt a major blow to narcotics networks.Mann said 63,707 alleged drug smugglers had been arrested over the past 437 days and illegal properties built using drug money demolished across the state."The backbone of the drug trade has been broken and all the big fish are behind bars. This crackdown will continue until drugs are completely wiped out from Punjab," he said.Highlighting his govt's welfare initiatives, Mann claimed that free electricity was being provided to 90% of households and more than 65,000 govt jobs had been given without corruption. He also said closure of toll plazas had resulted in savings of nearly Rs 70 lakh daily for commuters.