Chandigarh30 June. The Akal Takht has given an ultimatum to the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government to amend the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 as per the changes suggested by the Sikh religious leaders.
Akal Takht’s order is binding on Sikhs
This ultimatum was given by the Akal Takht after an unprecedented hearing on Monday, in which Sikh ministers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and Sikh MLAs of all parties were summoned. He was asked why this law was passed without consulting the highest religious and secular body of the Sikhs. It is noteworthy that the instructions of the Akal Takht, which are called Hukamnama, are considered binding on the Sikhs.
All MLAs admitted that a mistake was made – Akal Takht Jathedar
At the end of the discussion that lasted for about two hours, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gadgaj said that all the MLAs present in the meeting admitted that a mistake was made while passing the law and they have accepted the instructions of Akal Takht.
Assembly Speaker said – Government will consider the suggested changes
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan did not make a direct commitment to implement these changes. He said the government will consider the changes suggested by the Akal Takht and then a final decision will be taken.
The Punjab government had passed the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill on April 13.
It is noteworthy that the Punjab Assembly had passed the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill in a special session called on the occasion of Baisakhi on April 13. In this law, there is a provision for strict punishment for disrespecting Guru Granth Sahib. Sikhs consider Guru Granth Sahib to be a living Guru.
A week later, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria approved this anti-sacrilege bill. The ruling AAP had described the bill as a ‘game-changer’ ahead of the assembly elections early next year.
For now, Monday’s proceedings were seen as an extraordinary display of the Akal Takht’s authority over laws related to Sikh religious matters. Never before had the Akal Takht summoned almost the entire Sikh political leadership of Punjab, including ministers, Assembly Speaker, ruling party MLAs, opposition MLAs and independent members, on the issue of any law passed unanimously by the Punjab Assembly.
That’s why CM Bhagwant Mann was not called to the meeting
Since Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been declared ‘anti-Guru’ and ‘anti-Khalsa Panth’ in connection with the alleged sacrilege video controversy, he was not invited to the meeting. According to the list released by the Akal Takht secretariat, 69 AAP MLAs and ministers attended the hearing. 15 Congress MLAs, two Shiromani Akali Dal MLAs and independent MLA Rana Inder Pratap Singh were also present. Four non-Sikh ministers sent written explanations while two non-Sikh MLAs voluntarily attended the meeting.
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