Punjab Assembly Extends Select Committee Tenure for Holy Scriptures Bill and Nakodar Firing Probe
The Punjab Legislative Assembly has granted a significant six-month extension to the tenure of its select committee, which is tasked with examining the comprehensive Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill. The committee, chaired by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar, will also now formally investigate the tragic 1986 Nakodar firing incident as part of its expanded mandate.
Extension Resolution Passed Amid Legislative Proceedings
During a session of the House, MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar moved a formal resolution seeking an additional six months for the committee to complete its work. This resolution was accepted by the assembly. Nijjar informed the legislative body that the panel was originally constituted in July 2025 but has been unable to submit its required report. The delay is attributed to the need for a thorough assessment of the bill, which involves gathering and analyzing feedback from a wide array of stakeholders and religious organizations.
Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Kultar Singh Sandhwan, officially communicated to the House that the select committee's responsibilities have been broadened. In addition to its primary function of scrutinizing the anti-sacrilege legislation, the panel is now also mandated to conduct an inquiry into the Nakodar killing case, bringing a decades-old incident back into the legislative spotlight.
Opposition Demands and Government Assurance
The extension decision was not without contention. Opposition members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) vocally demanded that the committee's report be presented before the House without further delay. They argued that since the report pertains directly to the critical anti-sacrilege bill under discussion and feedback has already been collected from various religious bodies, its submission is imperative for transparent legislative progress.
In response, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann provided assurances to the assembly. He stated that the select committee is committed to submitting its report promptly on cases involving the desecration of various religious texts. Furthermore, CM Mann confirmed that the panel will undertake a detailed examination of the 1986 Nakodar firing incident as part of its renewed timeline and objectives.
Scope of the Bill and Historical Context of Nakodar
The select committee was initially formed to study a far-reaching legislative proposal. The Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill is designed to be an expansive piece of legislation. It aims to cover acts of sacrilege against multiple holy books, including but not limited to the Bhagavad Gita, the Quran, and the Bible. The proposed bill stipulates severe penalties, with provisions for life imprisonment for offenders, highlighting the gravity with which the state views such crimes.
The 1986 Nakodar firing incident, which the committee is now tasked to investigate, remains a poignant and unresolved chapter in Punjab's history. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema provided a detailed account to the assembly. On February 4, 1986, in the town of Nakodar, police personnel allegedly opened fire on a group of Sikh youths. These individuals were engaged in a peaceful protest following the burning of five saroops (physical volumes) of the Guru Granth Sahib at the Sri Guru Arjan Dev Gurdwara Sahib. The tragic outcome of this police action was the loss of four young lives.
In the aftermath of the Nakodar tragedy, the Justice Gurnam Singh Commission was established to investigate the circumstances. While the commission submitted the first part of its findings, the second part of its report mysteriously disappeared, leaving many questions unanswered and contributing to the incident's legacy of seeking closure and justice.
The six-month extension granted to the select committee represents a critical step towards addressing both contemporary legislative needs concerning religious sanctity and historical accountability for past events. The panel's work is now poised to bridge a gap between pressing legal reforms and the pursuit of long-overdue truth and justice for the victims of the Nakodar firing.
