Amritsar, May 7
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday visited Sri Harmandir Sahib and said he was grateful for what he described as the opportunity to introduce a strict anti-sacrilege law aimed at protecting the sanctity of Guru Granth Sahib.
After offering prayers at the Golden Temple, Mann told reporters that the newly enacted Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act 2026 was a “historic” measure designed to ensure severe punishment for acts of sacrilege.
“Our government is fortunate to have received the responsibility of passing such a historic legislation,” he said, adding that the law was intended to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Mann described the Guru Granth Sahib as deeply sacred to Sikhs and said it was the collective responsibility of society to preserve its dignity and respect.
Under the legislation, those convicted of sacrilege could face life imprisonment until death. Mann said the law had been drafted after consultations with legal experts and argued that its strict provisions would act as a deterrent.
He also alleged that past incidents of sacrilege were part of a wider conspiracy to disturb peace and communal harmony in Punjab.
The chief minister claimed the law had received broad support from Sikh communities in India and abroad after it was passed unanimously in the Punjab Assembly. However, he criticised leaders linked to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, accusing them of opposing the legislation despite public backing for it.
Mann made the remarks during his ongoing “Shukrana Yatra”, a statewide tour he said was intended to thank the Almighty for giving him the strength to enact the law.
The yatra began from Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib and is scheduled to continue until May 9, covering several major Sikh religious sites including Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib and Sri Fatehgarh Sahib.
Mann said large crowds had joined the yatra despite the heat because many people believed the legislation marked the first time Punjab had enacted a stringent law specifically focused on protecting the sanctity of the Sikh scripture.
