Talwandi Sabo-As per the orders of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, to discuss the doubts expressed by the Khalsa Panth regarding the provisions against Sikh sentiments in ‘The Jaagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026’ passed by the Punjab government, today Giani Tek Singh Jathedar Sahib of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib called an important meeting.
In the meeting, a large number of concerned Sikhs and representatives of various institutions and organizations, including SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, Sri Akal Takht Sahib Executive Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Tek Singh, participated and expressed their views in an open atmosphere. During the meeting on ‘The Jaagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026’ passed by the Punjab government, various speakers said that the act passed by the government is a direct interference in the religious affairs of the Sikhs and instead of focusing on punishing the persons responsible for incidents of beadbi (sacrilege) cases and providing justice to the Sikhs, it has imposed more responsibility on Sikh institutions, Gurdwara administrators, Sangat, and Granthi Singhs.
Addressing the gathering, SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said that we are not against giving strict punishment to the culprits of beadbi (sacrilege) in the Act but we are demanding removal of the clauses hurting Sikh sentiments. He said that we do not want to clash with the government and the government should also understand the Sikh sentiments. Advocate Dhami said that the government is propagating that with this Act, no accused will be able to escape by saying he is mentally ill, but there is no mention of mental illness anywhere in the Act, This raises serious questions regarding the government’s intentions.. He said that this Act of the government is not new but an amendment to the Act of 2008, in which the rights of publication of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were given to the SGPC. He said that the government had formed a committee to make an act to prevent incidents of sacrilege, the time of that committee was extended, while amendments were made to the existing law without taking anyone's opinion. He said that some of the provisions in the Act will cause Sikh Sangat to break away from Gurbani, which cannot be accepted. He asked the government to change the wording against Sikh sentiments instead of taking a rigid stand.
On this occasion, the acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Singh Sahib Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, spoke and took the government to task. He said that no government can make the rules of the Panth. Singh Sahib also repeated the words of the speakers and said that the government's only purpose is to somehow separate the Panth from the Guru Granth Sahib. He questioned the Chief Minister and said that the Chief Minister is openly lying. The Chief Minister claims that under this law, no accused will escape punishment by claiming mental instability, which proves that he has not read this law. Recently, a letter going viral on social media claiming that the Punjab government has hired a company that will count the government's achievements and spread propaganda, Singh Sahib also reacted strongly on this issue. Singh Sahib said that as long as there is life in the body, he will continue to fight for the supremacy and dignity of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj said that no such law is acceptable which is made without the will of the Panth. On this occasion, Singh Sahib Baba Tek Singh said that the interference made by the Punjab government in the internal religious affairs of the Sikhs will never be tolerated. He said that the law passed by the government without taking Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee into confidence seems to be a conspiracy to create obstacles in the way of Sikh preaching. Singh Sahib Ji said that "The matter of dignity and respect for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is an internal matter of the Panth. The government should make laws to give strict punishment to the culprits of beadbi (sacrilege), but government interference in the service, maintenance and propagation of the saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji cannot be accepted." He said that by fixing the responsibility of Sri Akhand Path Sahib or Sri Sehaj Path Sahib in the homes under the guise of custodian responsibility, an atmosphere of fear has been created among the Sangat. Due to this fear, the Sangat is depositing the holy books and Gutka Sahib from their homes in the Gurdwaras. This trend is a big challenge for the mission of propagating Sikhism and delivering Bani from door to door. On this occasion, S. Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar, Internal Committee Member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, said that today the government is trying to separate the Sikh Sangat from Gurbani through this law. S. Jhabbar said that the way the Mughal government and the British government used to practice tyranny, this government is pushing the Sikh community in the same way. If we do not take action against this today, the coming generations will curse us.
On this occasion, the President of the Granthi Sabha, S. Jagmel Singh Chhajla, said that due to the fear of the new law, the Sikh community is continuously submitting a large number of Gutka Sahibs to him. S. Chhajla said that under the guise of the law, the government is targeting the Granthi Singhs and Gurdwara Management Committees. On this occasion, Baba Pritam Singh Malliwale, speaking on behalf of the entire Sant Samaj, put the loopholes in the law in front of the Sangat. He said that this is the land of Punjab and the government has written the law in English, which proves that the government is leaving scope for ambiguity. On this occasion, Granthi Singh Sahib of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib Giani Balwinder Singh, Shiromani Committee member S. Mohan Singh Bangi, S. Major Singh Dhillon, Baba Buta Singh, Bibi Joginder Kaur, S. Surjit Singh Raipur, Baba Gurmeet Singh Tilokawala, Secretary of Dharam Prachar Committee S. Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, Deputy Secretary S. Sukhbir Singh, Giani Pranam Singh Chief Granthi Gu. Dukh Niwaran Sahib Patiala, S. Narinderjit Singh Manager Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Manager S. Surjit Singh, S. Bhag Singh, S. Rajinder Singh, S. Nirmal Singh, S. Jagjit Singh, S. Harbhagwan Singh, S. Sukhdev Singh Meet Manager, S. Bhola Singh Incharge Sub Office Dharam Prachar Committee, S. Ravinder Singh Khalsa, S. Maninder Singh Incharge Sub Office Shiromani Committee, S. Avtar Singh Incharge, S. Bhal Singh Incharge, Head Preacher Giani Sarabjit Singh Dhotian, S. Jaspreet Singh, S. Atamjit Singh, S. Surjit Singh, Baba Narayan Singh President Baba Bir Singh Baba Dhir Singh Granthi Sabha, Giani Jagbir Singh Granthi, S. Rajpal Singh, S. Tarsem Singh, Blind Organization Gu. Chanduana Sahib village Deewan, Sant Baba Mohan Das Ji, Sant Baba Kartar Das Ji, Sant Baba Lal Das Ji, Baba Sukha Singh Ji, Baba Sukhdev Singh Ji, S. Jarnail Singh Heron, S. Randhir Singh Chainewala, President Darshan Singh Pakka Shaheedan, Baba Bhola Singh Muktsar Sahib, Rupinder Singh Didariwala, Sant Baba Bharbhur Singh Ghanaur Kalan Wale, Baba Sukhdev Singh Ji, Baba Harbeant Singh Ji Mastuana Sahib, Baba Waheguru Singh Ji, Baba Satpal Singh Ji, Baba Namdev Sabha Bareta Mandi, Gurmat Prachar Granthi Sabha Barnala, Baba Bir Singh Baba Dhir Singh Granthi Sabha All India Sarprast Baba Buta Singh, Hari Narain Singh Boha, all Granthi Singhs from Rampura and Bathinda, all Management Committee Gu. Jhotasar Sahib, Sant Baba Ghala Singh Nanaksar Sahib, Baba Jagroop Singh Nirmale, Baba Jagsir Singh, Baba Pardeep Singh Ji, Bhai Makhan Singh S. Jagmel Singh Chhajla, Sant Baba Harvinder Singh Nirmale and a large Sangat were present.