Tensions have escalated between the Punjab Government and Sikh religious leadership over the recently passed Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act 2026.
Tensions have escalated between the Punjab Government and Sikh religious leadership over the recently passed Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act 2026.
During a crucial meeting convened on May 17, 2026, at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib to review the legislation, Akal Takht Acting Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj launched a scathing attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of misinterpreting the law and misleading the public.
The Dispute Over ‘Custodian’
The core of the controversy lies in the legal definition and interpretation of the word “custodian” within the new amendment. Jathedar Gargajj strongly criticized Chief Minister Mann’s public remarks regarding who constitutes a custodian under the act.
According to the Jathedar, CM Mann publicly claimed that if an individual committing an act of sacrilege (beadbi) is legally declared mentally unstable, their immediate family members or legal guardians (parents/caretakers) would be held accountable as the “custodians” and face legal action for failing to restrain them.
However, Jathedar Gargajj categorically rejected this interpretation, stating that in Sikh tradition and the context of the act, the term “custodian” refers to the Sevadars (caretakers), management committees, or individuals tasked with the upkeep and safety of the holy scriptures.
“The Chief Minister, who claims to represent three crore people of Punjab, is openly lying,” Jathedar Gargajj said. “He clearly has not read the law properly. His politics thrives on falsehoods, but when it comes to the Panth, we will not tolerate lies.”
Demands for a Public Apology
The Sikh leader challenged CM Mann to prove where his interpretation is written in the legal text of the amendment. “If he can prove it, we will praise the act. But he cannot, because it isn’t there,” the Jathedar stated, demanding an immediate public apology from the Chief Minister to the global Sikh community (Khalsa Panth).
Warning the state government against overriding religious conventions, Gargajj added, “No government can dictate or frame rules for the Maryada (customs) and principles of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the Guru Granth, and the Guru Panth. No matter how much pressure they try to exert, we will never allow any government to interfere.”
The state government had passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act 2026 as a stringent measure against sacrilege incidents, and the bill recently received the Governor’s assent following prolonged public agitation, including the Samana Tower Morcha. While the government maintains that the legislation is flawless and vital for maintaining religious harmony, the Akal Takht leadership has officially rejected it, citing flaws and potential state overreach into religious governance.
The meeting at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, called by Takht Jathedar Baba Tek Singh, signals an intensifying standoff between the ruling AAP government and the highest temporal seats of the Sikh faith.
