Panjab Assembly Session Begins, ‘Akal Takht’ Rejects Govt. Response to JJGGSS Act

August

2026

The Panjab Vidhan Sabha’s (Legislative Assembly) Monsoon Session is being held from 3–10 Aug. A major focus of the session is the call made by Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne) to make changes to the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (JJGGSS) (Amendment) Act. On 29 Jul, the last day of the deadline set by the Akal Takht to respond to its instructions, ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Inderbir Singh Nijjar submitted the Panjab government’s response to objections raised by the Akal Takht. The Akal Takht has rejected the Panjab government’s response as 'unsatisfactory', with officiating Jathedar (leader) Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj saying that it failed to honor the commitment made by Sikh legislators before the Takht on 29 Jun. Giani Gargajj said the government had accepted only 10% of the objections and recommendations submitted by the Akal Takht. Despite rejecting the response, Giani Gargajj said the Akal Takht remained open to further dialogue if the government wished to continue discussions on the legislation. He announced the formation of a committee to engage with the government on the issue. Responding to a question regarding Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa’s request for guidance, Giani Gargaj said that Sikh MLAs attending the Assembly session should limit their interaction to the Speaker and participate only in the proceedings of the House. He said they should neither face Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, nor look at him, nor respond to anything he says. On 30 Jul, the Akal Takht issued letters to Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhawan and all Sikh MLAs, urging them to uphold their religious duty by ensuring that any amendments to the JJGGSS Amendment Act, 2026, are made in accordance with the sentiments of the community and the directives of the Akal Takht. Meanwhile, a 60-year-old Balwinder Singh, resident of the Khokhar Kalan village, Mansa district, who served as a Granthi (reciter) at a Gurdwara in Birewala Jattan village, Mansa district, allegedly died by suicide on 29 Jul after being subjected to continuous mental harassment over Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh scripture and charter) sacrilege in 2024. Some Nihangs (traditional warriors) staged a protest by blocking the road at Tinkoni Chowk, Mansa. The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the sacrilege incident at Birewala Jattan village (earlier coverage).