Partap Bajwa writes to Sri Akal Takht, defends Congress' stand on Anti-Sacrilege law
Ravi Jakhu
Amritsar (Punjab), June 29, 2026: Ahead of appearing before the Sri Akal Takht Sahib over the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, Punjab Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa issued a detailed letter asserting that the Congress had consistently sought a stronger and more comprehensive anti-sacrilege law while raising procedural and legal concerns before the legislation was passed.
Addressing the letter to Sri Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Bajwa said he and other Congress legislators were appearing before the Akal Takht with “humility, an open mind and a clear conscience,” describing the Sikh temporal seat as the supreme institution of the Sikh Panth.
Bajwa said the Congress had, much before the special Assembly session on April 13, 2026, submitted detailed written recommendations to the Assembly’s Select Committee headed by Inderbir Singh Nijjar regarding the proposed legislation.
According to the letter, the Congress had recommended that the law:
- Include theft of the sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib as a specific offence, citing the Burj Jawahar Singh Wala theft that preceded the Bargari sacrilege incidents.
- Mandate a time-bound Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe to be completed within 30 days under the supervision of senior officers.
- Provide for deemed prosecution sanction if the Director General of Police failed to take a decision within 15 days of completion of the investigation.
- Ensure disciplinary action within 30 days against officers found conducting biased or compromised investigations.
- Establish an oversight mechanism to review failed investigations and initiate action against erring officials.
- Set up special courts for speedy trial of cases registered under the Act.
- Impose a complete prohibition on the use of firearms during protests related to sacrilege incidents to prevent a repeat of the Behbal Kalan firing.
Bajwa further claimed that the Congress had also written to Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, requesting that the Select Committee’s report—which he said had remained pending for nine months—be circulated among all legislators before the Bill was introduced in the Assembly, as required under Rule 224 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure. He alleged that the request was not accepted and that the issue was also raised on the floor of the House during the April 13 special session.
Maintaining that the Opposition lacked the numbers to stop the Bill’s passage, Bajwa said responsibility for enacting the legislation rested with the ruling government.
At the same time, he assured the Akal Takht that the Congress would work towards building a broad consensus involving the Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Sikh scholars, the Sant Samaj and other Panthic organisations to strengthen the legislation.
“The law should not become the political trophy of any party or government,” Bajwa said in the letter, adding that it should instead serve as a permanent, effective and enforceable shield to protect the sanctity and dignity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Reiterating the Congress’s commitment before the Akal Takht, Bajwa said Sri Guru Granth Sahib deserves “the strongest possible law, enacted with the greatest urgency and based on the widest possible consensus.”