Amended legislation against sacrilege to act as a deterrent: Mann

Talwandi Sabo Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said the new legislation his government will introduce in the Vidhan Sabha will impose increased penalties, including life imprisonment, and will act as a deterrent against Beadbi, or sacrilege.

He was addressing a gathering here after inaugurating the sub-divisional complex, replacing a 40-year-old dilapidated structure with a modern citizen-oriented facility built at a cost of nearly ₹6 crores.

Mann said the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Bill, 2026, will be introduced during a special session of the Punjab Assembly on April 13.

“There have been several incidents involving Beadbi of Guru Granth Sahib and other revered holy scriptures, which deeply hurt public sentiments and disturbed social harmony in the past,” he said.

Mann noted that while Articles 298, 299 and 300 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, address such issues, they do not prescribe severe enough punishment to deter such acts.

“After careful consideration, the Punjab government has decided that stronger legal measures are needed to protect the sanctity of Guru Granth Sahib and promote mutual respect and communal harmony,” he said.

The amended Anti-Sacrifice Bill proposes enhanced penalties, including life imprisonment, for those found guilty of sacrilege, he said, expressing confidence that it would act as a strong deterrent against such acts and help maintain peace and communal goodwill across Punjab.

The Mann government agreed to a special session of the assembly on Monday to amend the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008.

The Punjab Cabinet approved the amendments on Saturday.

Criticizing the earlier governments, the chief minister said the state was previously in the wrong hands, due to which he suffered, and since his assumption of office, his government has accorded top priority to works of great public interest.

He expressed the hope that the new subdivision complex would greatly benefit the residents of Talwandi Sabo and nearby towns by ensuring faster, transparent and hassle-free delivery of services under one roof.

Earlier in the day, Mann paid obeisance to Takht Sri Damdama Sahib and prayed for the peace, progress and prosperity of Punjab.

He also expressed hope that the ethos of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood in the state would grow stronger with each passing day.

“The holy city of Talwandi Sabo is blessed with the footprints of Dashmesh Pitaah Guru Gobind Singh, and I am happy to bow here,” he said.

He offered greetings on the holy festival of Baisakhi, “This festival symbolizes the spirit of Punjabi and Punjabiyat, along with unity in diversity.”

He recalled that on April 13, 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa at Sri Anandpur Sahib, which was a defining moment in history.

“The ‘Panj Pyaras’ belonging to different castes were baptized, laying the foundation of an egalitarian society and spreading the message of love, compassion, universal brotherhood and communal harmony,” he said.

Baisakhi also marks the beginning of the harvest season and is a festival of farmers, laborers and hardworking people, he said and urged citizens to celebrate it with traditional fervour.

“The importance of this day goes beyond Sikhs or Punjabis; it is of great importance to the entire nation,” he said.

“By creating the Khalsa Panth, Guru Gobind Singh breathed new life into a demoralized society and empowered people to rise up against oppression and injustice, even at the cost of their lives,” Mann said.

He added that the day should not remain a ritual but should serve as an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to building a fair and just society.

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