Chandigarh, April 21: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has challenged Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal to explain his silence following the implementation of the Jaagat Jot Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Bill, 2026. AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu stated that the rapid enactment of the law has left opposition leaders without a platform after years of utilizing the issue for political purposes.
The legislation, which was introduced during a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on April 13, has now officially become law following the Governor’s assent. Pannu noted that while previous administrations under both the Congress and the Akali-BJP alliance allowed similar bills to stall or remain ineffective, the current government secured full implementation within days.
“While the AAP-led Punjab government has fulfilled its commitment by bringing a strict law to prevent beadbi incidents, those who earlier politicised such sensitive issues are now choosing to remain silent,” Baltej Pannu affirmed.
The new law carries severe penalties for acts of sacrilege, including life imprisonment and fines reaching ₹25 lakh. Pannu declared that the government conducted thorough consultations with legal experts and religious figures to ensure the framework provided a genuine deterrent against future incidents.
The Media In-charge also pointed to the absence of the lone Akali Dal MLA during the Assembly session, asserting that history would remember who chose to be absent when the sanctity of the Guru Granth Sahib was being discussed. He maintained that the silence from both the SAD leadership and the SGPC reflects a lack of political clarity and a failure to stand for religious sentiments.
