CHANDIGARH, JUNE 19: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann declared that the individuals responsible for past sacrilege incidents, which deeply affected the public conscience, will be thoroughly investigated and penalized under the law. Speaking during a public interaction at Bhattlan village in the Tanda constituency of Hoshiarpur, the Chief Minister stated that the state will no longer allow its progress to be hindered by the administrative failures of previous tenures.
The administration noted that historical incidents at Bargari, Behbal Kalan, and Kotkapura caused immense pain to the community. To prevent any future occurrences, the government has enacted the stringent Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, which establishes severe legal penalties for sacrilege. Top officials asserted that safeguarding the honor of religious scriptures remains a fundamental duty of the state.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann affirmed his commitment to tracking down the culprits.
“The incidents of Beadbi at Bargari and the firing incidents at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura bruised the conscience of every Punjabi, especially the Sikh Sangat. These wounds are still fresh in the minds of the people. I want to assure every Punjabi that justice will prevail and those responsible for these heinous crimes will not be spared,” the Chief Minister declared.
He maintained that previous leaderships routinely used religious sentiments for political mileage while failing to protect sacred institutions.
The Chief Minister noted that despite suffering historical disruptions during Partition in 1947, the unrest of 1984, and subsequent years of financial exploitation by past leaders, Punjab is now moving toward a stable economic future. He cited several welfare initiatives designed to support families, including a new policy ensuring that Group C and Group D women employees are posted within a 40-kilometer radius of their homes. He stated that by expanding infrastructure, providing universal healthcare, and reviving canal irrigation, the government aims to build a prosperous environment so local youth no longer feel a need to move abroad.
