Sri Amritsar-In connection with the Punjab Government passing the ‘The Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026’ without the consent of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and to deliberate upon the apprehensions and objections being raised by Sikhs regarding the law, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan today appeared before Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj as per his directions. Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Giani Tek Singh, was also present on the occasion.
During the meeting held at the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, both sides held clause-by-clause discussions regarding the law, and the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib sought answers from the Speaker over objections raised by Sikh institutions, Panthic scholars, legal experts, Singh Sabhas, Granthi Sabhas and other Sikh bodies regarding the legislation.
After deliberations, Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj clearly told Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan that within 15 days the government must remove those provisions from the Act which are against the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Khalsa Panth and the sentiments of Guru Nanak Naam Leva Sikh Sangats, and which were incorporated into the law without consultation with Sikh institutions. He stated that because of such provisions, the law is unacceptable to Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the Khalsa Panth, and therefore the government should not impose it forcibly upon Sikhs.
He said Sri Akal Takht Sahib has no objection to strict punishment being awarded to those guilty of sacrilege. However, he added that the provisions inserted into the law place Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Sikh sentiments and concerns related to the Guru Sahib, the internal administrative system of Sikhs, the SGPC, Sikh Sangat, granthis, pathis, gurdwara committees and other sewadars within a legal framework in the manner of accused persons, which amounts to direct government interference in Sikh affairs. He said the Khalsa Panth can never tolerate this. He said that while there may be laws for those accused of sacrilege, no law can be imposed upon Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Sangat, and sewadars.
The Jathedar further said that the objectionable clauses in the law have created fear among ordinary Sikhs, which could distance them from Sikhi and Sri Guru Granth Sahib, terming it a very serious conspiratorial development. He also said that making public on the SGPC’s website information regarding who have the sacred birs of Sri Guru Granth Sahib is highly objectionable because it would expose the personal information of devout Sikhs, which could be misused by anti-Sikh forces and mischievous elements. Therefore, he said, there is strong objection to this clause as well. He added that as far as maintaining records is concerned, the SGPC already has a proper arrangement in place.
Jathedar Gargajj told Speaker Sandhwan that Sri Akal Takht Sahib would provide the Punjab Government with a panel of Sikh legal experts and judges through whom discussions should be held to build consensus on the law. He stated that until Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the SGPC give their approval in this matter, Sikhs and the Khalsa Panth will not accept the law. Speaker Sandhwan said that since the matter pertains to the state government, he would hold discussions with the government.
Jathedar Gargajj warned that if the government does not remove the provisions offending Sikh sentiments from the amended law within 15 days, a gathering of the five Singh Sahibs would be convened by Sri Akal Takht Sahib and strict action would be taken in the matter.
As per the directions of Jathedar Gargajj, the SGPC officials also took Speaker Sandhwan to Gurdwara Sri Ramsar Sahib, where they briefed him about the functioning of the Publication Department and also demonstrated how records related to Sri Guru Granth Sahib are maintained.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said the draft amendment to the Act was prepared on the night of April 11 and passed within just two days on April 13. He said Punjab is a Punjabi-speaking state and it was the government’s responsibility to prepare and make the draft amendment public in Punjabi from the very first day, but this has still not been done. He alleged that the government neither issued any draft publicly nor sought objections from Sikh Sangat and institutions before secretly pushing the amendment without discussion. He added that no draft was sent either to Sri Akal Takht Sahib or to the SGPC.
He further stated that when Sri Akal Takht Sahib had invited the Punjab Assembly Speaker for deliberations regarding the law, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann should have avoided the yatra being taken out for political gain on the issue. He said that the chief minister undertaking such “ego yatra” amounts to a direct challenge to Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Jathedar Gargajj said the term “Bir” has been in use in Sikh traditions and maryada since old times, and removing the word from the law reflects the government’s insensitive approach towards Sikh traditions. He said that although the term “Saroop” is also respectful, Sikh terminology will be decided by the Khalsa Panth and not by the government.
He stated that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure strict punishment for those guilty of sacrilege. He sharply criticized the present Punjab Government’s handling of the 2015 sacrilege cases, alleging that the accused were being protected. He questioned what the government had done to prevent these cases from being transferred outside Punjab and why the main accused, Dera Sirsa chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, had not yet been punished in these cases. He also asked the government to ensure justice for the victim families by punishing those responsible for the 2017 Maur bomb blast.
Among those present on the occasion were SGPC Secretary Balwinder Singh Kahalwan, Dharam Prachar Committee Secretary Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, Secretariat Sri Akal Takht Sahib in-charge Bagicha Singh, Speaker Sandhwan’s OSD Maninder Singh and Jaskaran Singh among others.