Will abide by Akal Takht directions: SGPC

Amritsar: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) would fully abide by any directions issued by Akal Takht regarding the recently framed law on sacrilege incidents, while reiterating its commitment to strict punishment for those involved in acts of desecration.Talking to the media, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said the committee has always supported stringent action against persons found guilty of sacrilege. However, he expressed serious reservations over certain provisions included in the newly passed Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, stating that some clauses could adversely affect Sikh religious practices and distance the Sikh community from Gurbani.Dhami said religion teaches purity, discipline, and humility, and stressed that the matter should not be turned into an issue of prestige by the govt. Instead, he said, authorities should address the concerns and apprehensions being raised by the Sikh sangat over the provisions of the legislation."Whatever directions are issued by Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs established by the Sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the SGPC will fully abide by them," Dhami said.Meanwhile, Dhami informed that the National Testing Agency (NTA) apologized after objections were raised by SGPC over incidents in which Sikh students were allegedly asked to remove their Kakaars during examinations.Dhami said the NTA has sent a letter assuring that such incidents will not occur in the future. He said the issue is directly linked to Sikh religious sentiments and stressed that Sikh students should not face such situations again.