Congress MLA Pargat Singh Questions Punjab Government's Intent on Sacrilege Justice
Former education minister and Congress legislator Pargat Singh has strongly criticized the Punjab government's approach to addressing sacrilege cases, labeling its announcement of a special assembly session on April 13 to enact a new sacrilege law as an attempt to "mislead the public and evade accountability" for the 2015 incidents. Speaking in Chandigarh on Wednesday, Singh alleged that the move is designed to create a false impression of progress while failing to deliver substantive justice.
Allegations of Misleading Legislation and Bypassed Consultations
Pargat Singh asserted that the government is merely proposing an amendment to The Punjab Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Printing Press and Publication) Act, 2008, but presenting it as entirely new legislation. He termed this strategy "reckless and ill-conceived," emphasizing that comprehensive consultation with religious scholars and experts across faiths is essential before tabling any such bill. Singh accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of bypassing this critical process, undermining the law's legitimacy and effectiveness.
Comparison with Previous Legislation and Central Assent Issues
The Congress leader argued that instead of amending the 2008 Act, the government should focus on securing passage of the 2018 amended legislation, which already incorporates stringent penal provisions. He highlighted that the 2018 Bill stands a better chance of receiving central government assent. Singh explained that once criminal provisions are inserted into the 2008 Act through the proposed amendment, it would fall under the Concurrent List, requiring Presidential assent under Article 254—a hurdle similar to the one that blocked the 2018 legislation.
- He recalled that the 2016 sacrilege law included provisions for 10 years' imprisonment and harsher penalties, but the Centre denied assent, citing its applicability to a single state and religion.
- The Congress government later introduced a revised Bill in 2018, extending its scope to all religious scriptures and incorporating Section 295AA IPC for life imprisonment, yet central assent was again not granted.
Criticism of Dropped 2025 Bill and Pending Cases
Pargat Singh noted that the AAP government introduced The Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025 in July 2025, but it was later dropped. He revealed that the Punjab assembly had referred the Bill to a select committee due to deficiencies, and the committee's report remains undisclosed. Singh demanded that the speaker requisition and publicize this report to address the shortcomings of the 2025 Bill.
Furthermore, he criticized the AAP government for its inaction on pending sacrilege cases, alleging no progress in investigations related to:
- The Bargari desecration
- The Behbal Kalan firing
- The Kotkapura and Mor Mandi blasts
Singh stated that the government has sufficient grounds to press serious charges in cases involving firing on protesters and bomb blasts but has failed to do so, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
Allegations of Political Posturing and Ideological Links
The former minister also targeted AAP MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, accusing him of being projected to create an illusion of progress in sacrilege cases. Pargat Singh alleged that under the guise of new legislation, the government is repeating past failures. He further claimed that both the BJP and AAP operate within the ideological ambit of the RSS, and the government's conduct on this issue reflects that position, suggesting a lack of genuine commitment to resolving the sacrilege matters.
