A recently enacted anti-sacrilege law in India's Punjab province has ignited a significant controversy, pitting the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government against Sikh religious institutions and opposition parties.
The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, has raised objections not to the severity of the law's punishments, but to its specific provisions regarding terminology, the registration of religious texts, and their administration. These matters, the Akal Takht argues, fall under the purview of Sikh religious practice and should be determined by Sikh institutions, not the state. The religious body specifically opposed proposals to assign identification numbers to physical copies of the Guru Granth Sahib and maintain a central register, viewing such actions as governmental overreach.
In response to these concerns, the Akal Takht summoned the Punjab Assembly speaker, Kultar Singh Sandhwan, on May 8. Sandhwan, an AAP representative, defended the law as necessary for protecting the Guru Granth Sahib when he appeared before the Akal Takht. While the Akal Takht lacks constitutional authority over the government, its considerable religious influence among Sikhs means its directives are difficult for any administration to disregard in Punjab, a region where religion and politics have historically been closely intertwined.
The dispute escalated further as the Akal Takht summoned Sikh ministers and legislators from various parties, including the AAP. During the proceedings, Kuldip Singh Gargajj, head of the Akal Takht, questioned lawmakers on whether they had read the legislation before voting. According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), several legislators admitted they had not, stating that copies of the bill were distributed shortly before the debate.
Citing this as "serious negligence," Gargajj urged the Punjab government to amend the law within a month and to refrain from implementing the disputed provisions in the interim. The controversy has become a prominent political issue, with Punjab's three main opposition parties—the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal, and the BJP—accusing the AAP government of fast-tracking the law without adequate consultation with Sikh religious institutions.
This dispute arises at a critical juncture, with state elections scheduled for early next year. The situation adds pressure on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who is also facing a separate controversy related to an alleged sacrilege-related video. Opposition parties claim the video shows Mann consuming alcohol and splashing it on images of Sikh Gurus, allegations Mann has dismissed as fabricated. Mann has maintained that the law will not be withdrawn but has indicated a willingness to consider the Akal Takht's suggestions before deciding on potential amendments.