'Akal Takht' Rejects Anti-Sacrilege Law, Calls for Altering Clauses

May

2026

After Panjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan appeared at Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT) on 9 May, acting Jathedar (leader) AT Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj rejected the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act (JJGGSS), 2026 over certain controversial clauses. Giani Gargajj has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to remove objectionable clauses which 'hurt Sikh sentiments and interfere in Panthic (Sikh collective) affairs'. Giani Gargajj said according to a 1959 pact between former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Master Tara Singh and former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the government cannot make a law dealing with Sikh affairs. Then he pointed out that besides prosecuting the accused, the JJGGSS law also charges the ‘custodian’ of the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh scripture and charter) and could amount to Sikhs seeking police protection to perform prayers. He added, ‘Akal Takht would provide the Panjab government with a panel of Sikh legal experts and former judges to help build consensus on the legislation. Until the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) give their approval in this matter, Sikhs will not accept the law.' He warned that if the government failed to amend the law within 15 days, a meeting of the five Singh Sahiban (loved ones) would be convened and 'strict action' would follow. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said they will not affix Unique Identification numbers on the published GGS saroops (tomes), nor make their details public. Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, ‘If the 1959 pact was in force, how did the SAD government make the JJGGSS law in 2008?’ He has summarily rejected any proposal to make changes in the JJGGSS law. CM Mann went on a three-day shukrana yatra (thanksgiving tour) leading to major traffic restrictions and detentions of those who wanted to express their issues to him. On 7 May, in Amritsar, jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament Amritpal Singh’s mother Balwinder Kaur approached CM Mann and said, ‘You are also someone’s son, feel a mother’s pain.’ She was immediately removed from the cavalcade but she later asked, ‘Now that the National Security Act has been withdrawn, why can’t Amritpal be brought to a Panjab jail?’ (earlier coverage)