Akal Takht panel seeks Punjab compliance report before anti-sacrilege talks
The Akal Takht-appointed expert panel has asked the Punjab government to first submit a compliance report on the objections raised by the Sikh temporal seat
The Akal Takht-appointed expert panel has asked the Punjab government to first submit a compliance report on the objections raised by the Sikh temporal seat before any further discussion can take place on the proposed anti-sacrilege legislation. The panel, formed to deliberate with the state government on issues related to the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, held its first meeting on Thursday. Read Full Story It said the government's July 29 response did not address the Akal Takht's basic objections, particularly on provisions seen as interference in Sikh religious matters. On June 29, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj had directed the Punjab government to address his objections to the anti-sacrilege law within a month.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Akal Takht Secretariat said, "The response of the Punjab government, received on the penultimate day of the one-month deadline, is clearly an obfuscation of facts and an attempt to skirt the issue. The concerns of the 'Khalsa Panth' have been clearly communicated to the Speaker, Punjab Legislative Assembly and members of the Punjab cabinet on July 31, 2026." It further said, "The government's conduct so far has not been constructive towards finding a resolution to the grave and sensitive issue of sacrilege. Despite substantial time afforded by the Akal Takht, the Punjab government has not yet constituted its panel to deliberate on the issue." More than a week ago, Gargajj had rejected the Punjab government's response on the anti-sacrilege law as "unsatisfactory" and announced a five-member expert committee to engage with the Aam Aadmi Party government on the matter.
The expert panel comprises Justice (Retd) Rupinder Singh Sodhi, Justice (Retd) Mohinder Mohan Singh Bedi, senior advocate Puran Singh Hundal, and Sikh scholars Dr Kehar Singh and Prof Jagmohan Singh. Under the Jathedar's directions, separate letters were recently sent to Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh, Sikh MLAs and Punjab government ministers, stating that no further discussion or amendment to the anti-sacrilege law should take place without 'Panthic' consensus. Gargajj had also directed all Sikh MLAs and Cabinet ministers to ensure that during the Assembly session beginning on August 3, no discussion takes place on the anti-sacrilege law until consensus is reached with the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, and not to give consent to any further amendments to the law.
The BriefWire