Chandigarh, July 15
In a groundbreaking move to safeguard sacred religious scriptures, the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann Punjab Government has introduced the Punjab Prevention of Offences against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025, aimed at ensuring the dignity and respect of all religions in Punjab, said Harjot Singh Bains, Minister of Education and Information & Public Relations, Punjab.
While participating in the discussion on the Bill in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, S. Harjot Bains highlighted the historic trauma inflicted upon the Sikh community, referencing the attacks on the Golden Temple and Akal Takht. He noted that even today, the scars of those wounds persist in Amritsar, and 41 years after the Sikh genocide, justice remains elusive.
He slammed those who claimed to serve the Panth and protect Sikhism were the same individuals who were drunk in power when “Angs” of Sri Guru Granth Sahib were violated in the streets. People of Punjab can forgive them for accumulating wealth and building hotels like Sukhvilas in every district,S. Harjot Singh Bains added while stating, “but showing no regard for our Guru’s scriptures and firing bullets at Sanger protesting against desecration, for their own politics, is totally unacceptable.”
S. Harjot Singh Bains alleged that previous governments had tacit agreements facilitating drug trade and desecration. He claimed a decade-long conspiracy aimed to divide Punjab, alienate it from spiritual roots, and keep it fragmented, drugged, and disconnected from its rich heritage.
He said that Punjab, a land of immense spiritual significance, proudly claims the distinction of being the birthplace of the Rigveda, the world’s first scripture. It is also the land where the epic Ramayana was composed by Bhagwan Valmiki. Furthermore, Punjab is revered as the place where the Sri Guru Granth Sahib was compiled.
S. Bains stated that countless Sikhs have laid down their lives and made extraordinary sacrifices to uphold the dignity and sanctity of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The valour and devotion displayed by Sikh soldiers during World Wars I and II stand as a testament to their unshakeable commitment to their faith and Guru, as they safeguarded the revered Sri Guru Granth Sahib amidst formidable challenges and intense battles.
In recent years, the desecration incidents hurt Sikh sentiments, with perpetrators seemingly emboldened by previous governments’ inaction. The CM Mann led Punjab Government has indeed taken a significant step towards ensuring the dignity and respect of all religions by introducing the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025, he added.
S. Bains said that this bill defines desecration broadly, including acts like tampering, burning, tearing, destruction, defacing, and damaging sacred texts such as the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Gutka Sahib, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Quran Sharif and Holy Bible among others. The bill prescribes stringent punishments for offenders, including minimum sentence of 10 years, extendable to life imprisonment, fine ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Desecration is made a non-bailable and non-compoundable offence, ensuring that accused individuals cannot easily secure bail or settle the matter out of court.
“This bill is a testament to our commitment to ensuring the dignity and respect of all religious communities in Punjab. We believe that this legislation will serve as a deterrent to those who seek to harm the sentiments of people through desecration of sacred texts”, S. Bains said.
