CHANDIGARH, July 5 — The Punjab Vidhan Sabha will convene a special session on July 10 and 11 during which the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is expected to introduce and pass a stringent law against sacrilege.
The proposed legislation comes amid years of public anger and unrest in Punjab over repeated incidents of desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib and other holy scriptures — acts that have deeply wounded religious sentiments and, at times, triggered serious law and order challenges in the state.
Officials close to the matter said the draft of the bill is complete and is likely to be cleared during the two-day session without delay. “The government is fully committed to upholding the sanctity of our religious texts,” a senior AAP leader said. “The new law will ensure that those guilty of sacrilege face strict punishment.”
The move follows persistent public and religious community pressure for clearer, tougher legal provisions to deter such acts. Past incidents — many of them unresolved or mired in controversy — have fueled protests and erosion of public trust in law enforcement mechanisms.
For Chief Minister Mann’s government, the legislation is seen as both a political and moral priority. “People have been demanding action for years. Now, the time has come to ensure that no one dares to insult the faith of Punjab again,” said an official in the Chief Minister’s Office.
The session is expected to draw significant attention from Sikh institutions and civil society groups, many of whom have actively campaigned for legal reform on this issue.
