Chandigarh, May 8
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and party spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema on Friday said that the Punjab Chief Minister should resign in view of the rising incidents of bomb blasts in the state. He alleged that the Punjab government also failed to adequately consult Sikh religious bodies and organisations before introducing the recently passed anti-sacrilege law. Speaking to reporters after a meeting in Chandigarh, Cheema also said that the view of the Akal Takht leadership reflected the sentiment of the Sikh community, maintaining that anyone guilty of sacrilege should face the strictest punishment under the law. However, he expressed concern that granthis, sewadars, preachers, and members of gurdwara committees performing religious duties should not face harassment or the misuse of legal provisions while serving at gurdwaras.
The Akali Dal leader questioned why the Punjab government did not place the draft law before Sikh organizations for wider consultation. He alleged that the Chief Minister had unnecessarily created controversy around the issue and accused the government of presenting the law without adequate discussion. Referring to previous attempts made by the Shiromani Akali Dal government in 2016 and 2018 to introduce similar legislation, he said the party had always supported strict laws against sacrilege.
During the interaction, Cheema also commented on recent political developments and investigations in Punjab, expressing hope that law enforcement agencies would conduct fair probes and bring guilty individuals to justice. He further alleged that political parties were increasingly attempting to issue “clean chits” to themselves before investigations were completed, adding that accountability and transparency should remain central to public life.
