Punjab Assembly Approves Stricter Anti-Sacrilege Legislation During Baisakhi Session
The Punjab Vidhan Sabha convened a special session on the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi to introduce and pass a significant amendment to the state's anti-sacrilege laws. This legislative move comes as activist Gurjeet Singh Khalsa completes his 248th consecutive day of protest, perched atop a 400-foot mobile tower in Samana, Patiala district, demanding stricter penalties for sacrilegious acts.
New Bill Seeks Enhanced Punishments for Sacrilege Offenses
On Monday, the Punjab government tabled and passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which amends the existing 2008 Satkar Act. The proposed legislation aims to impose harsher punishments for acts of sacrilege against the Shri Guru Granth Sahib, reflecting longstanding public demands for stronger legal protections.
Leaders of the Dharam Yudh Morcha, also known as the Sarb Dharam Beadbi Rokko Kanoon Morcha, welcomed this development but emphasized that their agitation would persist until the law is fully enacted and implemented. They maintain a cautious stance, highlighting that procedural steps remain before the bill becomes enforceable law.
Activist's Tower Protest Enters Its Eighth Month
Gurjeet Singh Khalsa, a 43-year-old farmer and retired soldier from Kheri Nagaiyan village in Patiala, has been living atop a cellular company tower in Samana for over 17 months. His protest, initiated to demand a strict anti-sacrilege law with provisions for life imprisonment, has drawn widespread attention. Despite facing health challenges such as fluctuating blood pressure and sugar levels due to limited physical activity, Khalsa remains resolute.
"I will only come down when the law is implemented," Khalsa has repeatedly asserted. A young supporter from his village climbs the tower daily to deliver food and manage waste, sustaining his vigil. The protest was sparked by a sacrilege incident at a gurdwara in Jalandhar in October 2024, part of a series of desecrations that have plagued Punjab for over a decade.
Historical Context: Bargari Incident and Political Repercussions
Public anger over sacrilege reached a critical point in October 2015 when torn pages of the Guru Granth Sahib were discovered in Bargari, Faridkot. The subsequent police firing at Behbal Kalan, which resulted in the deaths of two Sikh protestors, ignited statewide outrage. This event is widely regarded as a turning point in Punjab politics, contributing to the electoral setbacks of the Shiromani Akali Dal in the 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections.
Protestor Dharminder Singh noted, "Governments have changed, laws have been promised, and commissions have submitted reports, but the political aftershocks of that episode continue to travel through every election cycle." The lingering sentiments underscore the deep-seated impact of the Bargari incident on the state's socio-political landscape.
Procedural Hurdles and Continued Vigilance
While the bill's passage is a milestone, Morcha coordinator Gurpreet Singh clarified that Khalsa will descend only after the legislation receives the Governor's assent and is formally notified. "The bill still requires Governor's assent before it can be notified as law — a procedural step that has delayed past legislative efforts as well," Singh explained.
In a show of solidarity, 400 farmers recently staged a dharna at Baba Banda Singh Bahadar Chowk in Samana near the tower, despite police attempts to disperse them. Talwinder Singh, an organizer, stated, "It is a positive step that the bill has been passed in the assembly, and now the Governor's assent is required."
Official Assurances and Future Steps
Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan visited the Samana protest site earlier to assure Khalsa of government action. He announced plans to personally deliver the draft of the passed law to Khalsa at the morcha site on April 14, symbolizing a direct engagement with the protestor's demands.
As the state awaits the Governor's assent, the protest site continues to attract supporters, keeping the issue at the forefront of public discourse. The combination of legislative progress and sustained activism highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and legal reform in Punjab.
