Punjab's Shukrana Yatra: A Milestone in Anti-Sacrilege Law

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann initiated a four-day 'Shukrana Yatra' following the implementation of a stringent anti-sacrilege law. Enshrined in the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026, this law introduces harsher punishments for sacrilege, aiming to uphold the sanctity of the Sikh holy text.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann embarked on a four-day 'Shukrana Yatra' from Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Sri Anandpur Sahib, signifying gratitude for the enactment of an anti-sacrilege law.

The Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act 2026, passed last month, imposes stricter penalties, including life imprisonment, for any desecration of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. The revised legislation aims to deter sacrilege and was unanimously passed by the Punjab Assembly on April 13.

Mann emphasized the importance of this law, highlighting its role as a deterrent against future offences. Despite some political opposition, Mann insists the move is solely to address past grievances and uphold the sacred text's sanctity.