SRI MUKTSAR SAHIB-Amid thunderous slogans, roaring crowds and an overwhelming outpouring of affection during a Lok Milni at village Saahib Chand in the Gidderbaha constituency, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday received siropas, portraits and blessings from villagers who gathered in huge numbers to welcome him. Riding on massive public enthusiasm, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann launched a fierce attack on divisive politics, declaring that Punjab’s peace, communal harmony and brotherhood would never be allowed to be disturbed for political gains.
Warning that anti-Punjab forces are trying to drag the state back into dark days through communal polarization, the Chief Minister asserted that Punjab’s soil can nurture everything except hatred and animosity, and said the people of the state would unitedly defeat every attempt to spread fear and division. Targeting the BJP over its “politics of creating divisions between communities”, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said Punjab celebrates every festival together and would firmly reject such agendas, while also asserting that the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act, 2026 would ensure that no sacrilege accused escapes punishment by exploiting loopholes in law.
Addressing the Lok Milni gathering, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that Punjab’s spiritual and cultural legacy stands firmly against hatred and divisive politics, and warned that Punjabis must unite to defeat every attempt aimed at pushing the state back into dark days. He said Punjab is the sacred land of great Gurus, saints and seers who have shown the path of mutual love, tolerance and harmony. “Punjab has a very fertile land and anything can germinate on it except hatred and animosity. The social bonding amongst people is already very strong and people should come together to further strengthen it, ” he said.
The Chief Minister categorically said that it is high time Punjabis united to give a befitting reply to divisive forces inimical to the peace, amity and communal harmony of the state. “Those trying to disturb communal harmony are enemies of Punjab because they again want to push the state into black days, ” he said.
Targeting the BJP, the Chief Minister said the saffron party had gained power in Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Bengal through divisive politics, but would never succeed in Punjab because Punjabis celebrate every festival together. “Some political parties are trying to divide people in the name of religion. BJP’s politics revolves around creating divisions between communities and then frightening both sides for votes. Punjab must outrightly reject such forces because the state has already witnessed dark days in the past which derailed its development, ” he said.
Speaking about his ongoing “Shukrana Yatra”, the Chief Minister said he had undertaken the yatra to thank the Almighty for bestowing upon him the opportunity to enact the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act, 2026. He said huge gatherings of devotees welcomed him with blessings, flowers and siropas throughout the journey for enacting and implementing strict laws to stop sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. “Despite intense heat, mothers, sisters and millions of people have gathered on the route. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for showering their blessings and support, ” he said.
The Chief Minister said whenever incidents of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji took place, the psyche of millions of people was deeply hurt. He said there was always hope that culprits would be caught and punished, but loopholes in the law allowed them to escape punishment by declaring themselves mentally unstable. “Many times, culprits escaped the gallows by saying ‘my mind is disturbed’ or ‘he is mentally ill’, and they walked free, ” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said.
However, the Chief Minister questioned why someone claiming mental instability would specifically target Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji alone. “If someone is truly mentally unstable, then why does he only target Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji? Why does he not crash into a train engine or touch live electric wires? The truth is that such acts were often deliberate and orchestrated, ” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Punjab Government had now plugged such loopholes through the new law by including a clause that even if someone is medically declared mentally unstable, their custodians, parents, guardians or caretakers would also face criminal charges. “There will be no bail for at least ten years and in severe cases punishment can extend up to life imprisonment, ” he added.
The Chief Minister said the Almighty had blessed him with the wisdom and strength to bring this Bill after detailed consultations with legal experts. He said the Punjab Government had drafted the legislation carefully so that no future amendments or loopholes could weaken it.
Targeting the Badal family, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said they would never support this law because their own names were linked to sacrilege incidents. “People kept voting for them believing they carried the legacy of Baba Nanak, but they deliberately allowed Baba Nanak’s Bani to be insulted on the streets. They even ordered water cannons and bullets against peacefully protesting devotees. What else can be expected from them?” he asked.
The Chief Minister said ever since the law was passed, not a single Akali Dal leader was visible in Punjab because they had quietly left for foreign countries fearing their names would surface. “The Almighty does not bless dishonest people forever. These are the same people who once claimed they would rule Punjab for 25 years. Today they do not even have 25 candidates left to distribute election tickets because people have sent them into political oblivion, ” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said.
Lashing out at the Akalis, the Chief Minister said they were never sincere about bringing such a law while in power because their intentions were flawed. “The Akalis allowed sacrilege incidents to take place for political gains. They admitted their mistakes before Akal Takht Sahib but later denied them publicly. Those who can lie before the Takht can never be loyal to anyone, ” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann warned people to stay cautious of such leaders who only wanted political power to plunder Punjab. Coming down heavily on the BJP, he said violence, divisiveness and communal tension were a patent of the saffron party and an integral part of its politics. “BJP is trying to incite violence and fear in Punjab on the pattern of Bengal to win the ensuing polls, but its nefarious designs will never succeed in Punjab, ” the Chief Minister said, reiterating the Punjab Government’s commitment to peace, unity and democratic values.
The Chief Minister said Punjab has always stood as a beacon of communal harmony and resilience, and any attempt to disturb its peace would be firmly resisted. “Violence is a brand of BJP’s politics and is aimed solely at garnering votes by creating terror and panic. This divisive politics is being pursued by BJP in every poll-bound state for electoral gains, ” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said.
He said now that the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act, 2026 had been passed, anti-Punjab forces would not be able to fulfil their nefarious designs. “Baffled by this, BJP is now resorting to acts aimed at disturbing Punjab’s hard-earned peace, but this will never be allowed, ” he asserted.
The Chief Minister said Akali leaders were now begging for one more chance despite already getting five opportunities from the people earlier. “Instead of serving people, they looted Punjab and that is why people showed them the door. These parties only wait for their turn in power so they can plunder Punjab again, ” he said.
Highlighting irrigation reforms, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said it was a matter of immense pride that 68% canal water was now being used for irrigation and this would be increased to 85% by the coming paddy season. He said the Punjab Government had laid 14, 000 kilometres of pipelines and watercourses across the state and released 21, 000 cusecs of water to benefit farmers.
“This water is equal to the supply of two Bhakra canals. Recharge points have been created in canals and rivers due to which groundwater levels have increased by two to four metres. This decision is aimed at securing the wellbeing of future generations because Punjab exists because of water, ” the Chief Minister added.