Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Announces Special Session for Anti-Sacrilege Legislation
In a fiery address at a public rally in Jaito town, Faridkot district, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared that a special session of the state assembly will be convened on April 13. The primary agenda of this session is to enact a stringent anti-sacrilege law, featuring severe penalties including denial of bail for one year and life imprisonment for offenders.
Reviving the 2015 Sacrilege Issue to Target Political Rivals
Leveraging Jaito's geographical proximity to Bargari and Behbal Kalan, Mann launched a scathing attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He revived the contentious issue of the 2015 sacrilege incidents and the subsequent police firing that resulted in the loss of two lives. Mann asserted that the Akali Dal was the "main operator" behind these events, claiming that every vote cast for the party constitutes an endorsement of sacrilege.
"The Akalis bruised the psyche of every individual by desecrating the Guru Granth Sahib, disrespecting Gurbani, and ordering firing on peaceful protesters in Behbal Kalan and Bargari," Mann stated, alleging grave disrespect to the Akal Takht.
Accusations of Drug Trade Patronage and Symbolic Electoral Analogy
Expanding his critique, Mann accused the Akali Dal of patronizing the drug trade during their extended tenure in power. "They should be booked for the genocide of generations. Their hands are drenched in the blood of youth destroyed by drugs that flourished under their rule, even transported in official vehicles," he alleged. Summarizing his charges, Mann remarked that the Akalis began with "bullet wali goli" and later shifted to "chitte wali goli."
Employing a symbolic analogy, the Chief Minister told the audience they would have "three pens" to choose from during voting. He described the Congress pen as having red ink, symbolizing the attack on Sri Harmandir Sahib and the 1984 riots. The Akali pen, he said, carries the ink of desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib. In contrast, the Aam Aadmi Party's pen is portrayed as transforming Punjab into "Rangla Punjab" through innovative initiatives.
Presence of Dignitaries and Concurrent Farmer Protest
The rally was attended by prominent figures including Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and cabinet ministers Baljeet Kaur and Balbir Singh, underscoring the event's political significance.
Simultaneously, activists from the farmer organization BKU Ekta Sidhupur staged a protest at the Lehra Bega toll plaza in Bathinda district. This demonstration occurred after several members were stopped and detained while attempting to reach the Chief Minister. The organization accused Mann of utilizing police forces to prevent them from raising questions directly before him, highlighting ongoing tensions between the administration and agricultural groups.
