The Dharam Yudhh Morcha expressed its approval on Monday regarding the unanimous approval of the anti-sacrilege Bill by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. However, they indicated that the decision to conclude their ongoing protest will be made after they thoroughly examine the full text of the legislation.<\/p>\n
Protesters from the Morcha have been demonstrating at Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Chowk in the Samana constituency of Patiala since February 24, advocating for more stringent penalties for sacrilege offenses.<\/p>\n
Kaka Singh Kotda, the general secretary of Bharti Kisan Union (Sidhupur), stated, \u201cWe are pleased to see that the Bill includes provisions for life imprisonment, tougher penalties, and increased fines for offenders. Nonetheless, we wish to review the physical document before deciding whether to end the dharna.\u201d He also mentioned the intention to consult with Gurjeet Singh Khalsa, who has been perched atop a BSNL tower in Samana since October 14, 2024, to discuss the same issue.<\/p>\n
Previously, the Morcha had presented a draft to the Punjab government, outlining the changes they desired in the existing sacrilege legislation. Kotda noted that many of their recommendations seem to have been included.<\/p>\n
Insiders suggested that if the Morcha endorses the Bill, they may organize an akhand path and invite government officials to participate in the ceremony to formally conclude their protest and bring Khalsa down from the tower.<\/p>\n
In a related matter, Manpreet Singh Ayali, a rebel MLA from the Akali Dal representing the Dakha constituency in Ludhiana, also expressed support for the Bill. He remarked, \u201cOver the years, numerous sacrilege incidents have occurred, deeply affecting Sikh sentiments. Even during the SAD’s tenure, a tragic shooting incident took place in Behbal Kalan, resulting in the deaths of two individuals while they protested against sacrilege. The SAD faced significant repercussions for that event. Although the perpetrators were apprehended, their punishment was minimal. I hope the Bill is enacted swiftly. I also propose that trials for such cases occur within a set timeframe to ensure timely justice, as delays can lead to the loss of crucial evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Delhi Akali Dal leader Paramjit Singh Sarna criticized the Bill, labeling the Bhagwant Mann government’s Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, as a calculated political maneuver aimed at undermining the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).<\/p>\n
In response to the legislation introduced during a special session of the state assembly, Sarna contended that despite its protective language, the Bill aims to transfer control of Sikh religious institutions to state authority. \u201cThe Bill masquerades as a measure of reverence, yet its true implications suggest otherwise,\u201d he asserted, noting that it paves the way for administrative and legal intervention in areas traditionally governed by the Panth through the SGPC.<\/p>\n
Sarna remarked that the current version of the Bill is essentially a reworked iteration of previous legislation that did not receive presidential approval. He highlighted specific provisions that require meticulous record-keeping and digital documentation concerning the saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, along with mandatory monthly updates certified by authorized personnel. He argued that this effectively subjects religious practices to bureaucratic oversight.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery granthi and every sewadar will be held accountable under a legal framework that invites police involvement in matters that require sensitivity rather than surveillance,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
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The Dharam Yudhh Morcha expressed its approval on Monday regarding the unanimous approval of the anti-sacrilege Bill by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. However, they indicated that the decision to conclude their ongoing protest will be made after they thoroughly examine the full text of the legislation. Protesters from the Morcha have been demonstrating at Baba […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9112,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[77,78,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-chandigarh","category-in-cities","category-india"],"yoast_head":"\n