Akal Takht jathedar, SGPC chief raise issue of anti-sacrilege law with Punjab governor

Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria agreed to meet with the Chief Minister to discuss the contentious anti-sacrilege law, following a meeting with Sikh leaders at a gurdwara.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj and SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Thursday met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria at a gurdwara here and raised the issue of the recently enacted anti-sacrilege law with him.

Jathedar Gargajj and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Dhami briefed the governor in detail about the ''objectionable'' clauses in the law -- Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Kataria, who visited the gurdwara to pay obeisance, said several comments have emerged since the law was enacted, and added that he plans to call the chief minister for talks on the issue to find a solution.

At the gurdwara manager's office, the governor was honoured with a siropa.

Gargajj also handed the governor a letter along with the draft of objections officially sent by the Akal Takht Sahib to the Punjab government.

The Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was unanimously passed by the Punjab Assembly on April 13. It has the provision of stricter punishment, including life imprisonment for any act of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib.

On May 8, the Akal Takht jathedar had given a 15-day ultimatum to the state government to remove provisions from the anti-sacrilege Act which are ''against the Guru Granth Sahib, the Khalsa Panth and the sentiments of the 'Sangat' (Sikh community)''.