Important meeting held at Sri Akal Takht Sahib on ‘Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026’, Sikh Ministers and MLAs expressed their views in an open atmosphere

-Major negligence revealed in process of passing ‘Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026’ in Vidhan Sabha by Punjab Government

-Sikh MLAs and Ministers admitted at Sri Akal Takht Sahib that they did not read or discuss draft of legal amendment before passing it

-Punjab legislators gave their consent to amend objectionable provisions of law in accordance with Sikh sentiments with raised arms at Sri Akal Takht Sahib amidst Jaikaras

-Sri Akal Takht Sahib gave one month’s time to Punjab Government to amend legislation in accordance with Sikh sentiments

-Orders to suspend proceedings of law until amendments are made in accordance with Sikh sentiments and agreement with Sri Akal Takht Sahib

Sri Amritsar, June 29-Kanwar Partap Singh / Tajeemnoor Kaur - A special meeting was held today at the Secretariat Sri Akal Takht Sahib (new building) to discuss the issue of ‘Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment), Act 2026’ passed by Punjab Government without the opinion and consent of the Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Guru Khalsa Panth, which was attended by the invited Sikh Cabinet Ministers of the Punjab Government and Sikh MLAs of the Vidhan Sabha.

Five Singh Sahibs led the meeting, including the Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib Giani Baljit Singh, Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Giani Tek Singh and Panj Piara of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Mangal Singh. Before the meeting, at the Secretariat Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the five Singh Sahibs prayed before the Guru Sahib to stand firm and protect the interests and rights of the Sikh community according to Gurmat (Guru’s wisdom).

The proceedings of the meeting were conducted by Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj himself, during which the proceedings were started by reciting the Mool Mantra, Gur Mantra and Gurbani. During the proceedings, the MLAs of different parties and the cabinet ministers of the government were given an opportunity to express their views and positions on the matter in an open atmosphere. Jathedar Gargajj instructed all the MLAs and ministers that no one would make objectionable words or personal remarks against each other, according to which the entire proceedings were conducted.

After the discussions, Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj gave the Punjab government one month's time to amend the legal amendment again according to Sikh sentiments and eliminate the objectionable clauses. He also asked the government to include this provision in the law that if a follower of an anti-Sikh Dera or a person associated with such Dera deliberately commits sacrilege, then a case should also be registered against the head of the concerned Dera. On this, all the Sikh cabinet ministers and MLAs present agreed to make further amendments in the law as per the Sikh sentiments registered by Sri Akal Takht Sahib. To get the agreement, the five Singh Sahibans took turns to raise Jaikaras (Sikh slogans) and in response, all the ministers and MLAs agreed by raising their hands. Jathedar Gargajj said that he also asked the Punjab government to suspend the law until it is amended in accordance with Sikh sentiments and in agreement with Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said that during the discussions, most of the MLAs have honestly admitted that they did not read the draft of the legal amendment before passing it, which shows that this law has been passed by the Punjab government in a hurry without understanding its seriousness and sensitivity. He said that this is a very serious negligence on the part of the Punjab government in the matters of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and sacrilege. He said that the government sent the draft law to the MLAs only a day in advance and neither was a copy of the original law of 2008 provided to them.

Some MLAs maintained that they had told the government in the Vidhan Sabha that it was necessary to discuss this legal amendment with the SGPC, Sikh institutions, scholars and legal experts before passing it.

Jathedar Gargajj said that through its legal amendment, the government has interfered in the Sikh maryada (code of conduct), the jurisdiction of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the internal functioning of the SGPC. He said that only the Guru Khalsa Panth has the right to take any decision regarding Sri Guru Granth Sahib and not the government. He made it clear that it is not the government's job to determine the custodian and their responsibilities in the amendment as it is an internal matter of the Sikhs. The government's law has created fear in the minds of the general Sikh community and this will create a big obstacle in the preaching of Sikh faith. A large number of Sikh Sangat have also deposited Gurbani Sanchis, Pothis, Gutka Sahib and religious literature at Gurdwars, which is a result of the government's non-serious approach.

During the gathering, Jathedar Gargajj also questioned the government on justice to the Sikhs and the victims of the 2015 Bargari sacrilege related cases and 2017 Maur terrorist bomb blast case. He also strongly criticized the government for not taking any action against Dera Sirsa chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in these cases and said that he should be arrested and brought to Punjab.

Jathedar Gargajj asked some important questions to the cabinet ministers and MLAs present that how many MLAs were consulted regarding the legal amendment passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha? When did the MLAs get the draft of this law? When did the ministers get this law? Did the ministers and MLAs read this law or not before giving approval? Which legal experts, religious experts, religious representatives, organizations or others did the Punjab Cabinet consult before approving this law? The law of 2008 was made by the government after the resolution of the general session of the SGPC, but why was the opinion and consent of the SGPC not taken before the amendment in 2026?

The MLAs who expressed their views included Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, S. Harpal Singh Cheema, S. Inderbir Singh Nijjar, S. Sukhpal Singh Khaira, S. Pratap Singh Bajwa, S. Pargat Singh, S. Jagroop Singh Gill, S. Manpreet Singh Ayali, S. Kulwant Singh, Bibi Ganiv Kaur, S. Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, S. Gurpreet Singh Banawali, Bibi Baljinder Kaur, S. Manjit Singh Bilaspur and S. Inderpratap Singh Rana.

The MLAs who attended the meeting were S. Sukhpal Singh Bholath, S. Avtar Singh Jalandhar North, S. Balwinder Singh Phagwara, S. Vikramjit Singh Phillaur, S. Tript Rajinder Singh Fatehgarh Churian, Mr. Naresh Puri Sujanpur, Bibi Aruna Chaudhary Dinanagar, S. Barindermeet Singh Gurdaspur, S. Kuldeep Singh Barnala, S. Sukhbinder Singh, Rajasansi, S. Sukhwinder Singh Adampur, S. Hardev Singh Shahkot, S. Pargat Singh Jalandhar Cantt, S. Rana Gurjit Singh Kapurthala, S. Partap Singh Qadian, S. Rana Inder Pratap Singh Sultanpur Lodhi, Bibi Ganiv Kaur Majitha, S. Manpreet Singh Dakha, S. Kultar Singh Kotkapura (Speaker), S. Harpal Singh Dirba, Bibi Baljit Kaur Malout, S. Harbhajan Singh Jandiala Guru, S. Harjot Singh Sri Anandpur Sahib, S. Gurmeet Singh Lambi, S. Ravjot Singh, Shamchurasi, S. Balbir Singh Patiala Region, S. Hardeep Singh Sahnewal, S. Amansher Singh Batala, S. Amarpal Singh Sri Hargobindpur, S. Gurdeep Singh Dera Baba Nanak, S. Kuldeep Singh Ajnala, S. Jasbir Singh Amritsar West, Bibi Jeevanjot Kaur Amritsar East, S. Inderbir Singh Amritsar South, S. Harmeet Singh Tarn Taran, S. Sarwan Singh Khemkaran, S. Manjinder Singh Khadoor Sahib, S. Dalbir Singh Baba Bakala, S. Sukhvir Singh Maur, S. Gurpreet Singh Sardulgarh, S. Labh Singh Bhadaur, S. Kulwant Singh Mehal Kalan, S. Jaswant Singh Amargarh, Bibi Narinder Kaur Sangrur, S. Gurdev Singh Nabha, S. Kuljit Singh Dera Bassi, S. Gurlal Singh Ghanaur, S. Harmeet Singh Sanour, S. Ajitpal Singh Patiala, S. Chetan Singh Samana, S. Kulwant Singh Sutrana, Bibi Amandeep Kaur Moga, S. Hakam Singh Raikot, S. Amritpal Singh Baghapurana, S. Jagdeep Singh Jalalabad, Bibi Inderjit Kaur Nakodar, S. Balkar Singh Kartarpur, S. Karambir Singh Dasuha, S. Jasvir Singh Urmur Tanda, S. Jai Krishna Singh Garhshankar, S. Charanjit Singh Sri Chamkaur Sahib, Bibi Anmol Gagan Kharar, S. Kulwant Singh Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, S. Rupinder Singh Bassi Pathana, S. Lakhbir Singh Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, S. Gurinder Singh Amloh, S. Jagtar Singh Samrala, Bibi Rajinder Pal Kaur Ludhiana South, S. Kulwant Singh Atam Nagar, S. Jeevan Singh Gill, S. Manvinder Singh Payal, Bibi Sarvjit Kaur Jagraon, S. Manjit Singh Nihal Singh Wala, S. Davinderjit Singh Dharamkot, S. Ranbir Singh Ferozepur Cantt, S. Fauja Singh Guru Harsahai, S. Narinderpal Singh Fazilka, S. Amandeep Singh Balluana, S. Hardeep Singh Gidderbaha, S. Jagdeep Singh Sri Muktsar Sahib, S. Gurdit Singh Faridkot, S. Amolak Singh Jaito, S. Balkar Singh Rampura Phul, S. Jagsir Singh Bhuchon Mandi, S. Jagroop Singh Bathinda City, Bibi Baljinder Kaur Talwandi Sabo, S. Jaswinder Singh Attari.
 

MLA from Ludhiana East S. Daljit Singh and Cabinet Minister S. Tarunpreet Singh Sond (MLA Khanna) were absent. Non-Sikh Ministers whose clarifications were received include Mr. Aman Arora Sunam, Mr. Barinder Kumar Goyal Lehragaga, Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak Bhoa, Mr. Mahinder Bhagat Jalandhar West while Minister Mr. Sanjeev Arora Ludhiana West did not send the clarification.