In a significant escalation of tensions between the Sikh leadership and the Punjab government, Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj of the Akal Takhat has formally summoned Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan to appear before the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs. The summons follows a high-level meeting of Panthic organizations that expressed deep resentment over recent legislative amendments passed without the consent of the Sikh community.
The Core Dispute: The “Jagat Jyot Act” Amendments
The primary reason for the summons is the Punjab government’s decision to modify laws regarding the printing and handling of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, specifically amendments to what the Jathedar referred to as the “Jagat Jyot Act”
The Jathedar emphasized that the Akal Takhat and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) were completely bypassed during the drafting of these laws. “Why was the Panth kept out?” the Jathedar questioned, asserting that the sovereignty over the holy scriptures belongs to the Guru Panth, as ordained by the tenth Guru.
Concerns Over GPS Tracking and “Custodianship”
The Jathedar highlighted several “arbitrary” clauses in the new legislation that have sparked outrage:
- Digital Surveillance: The Jathedar raised alarms over government proposals to use GPS trackers or public websites to monitor the location of the holy scriptures,. He warned that making such data public could assist those with “ill intentions” and lead to further incidents of sacrilege.
- Terminology Rejection: The Panthic leadership has rejected the government’s use of the term “custodian” in the law. The Jathedar clarified that the Sikh community are “servants” and “protectors” of the Guru, not government-defined custodians.
- Interference in Tradition: The Jathedar argued that the government lacks the religious understanding to decide Maryada (Sikh code of conduct), such as how the scriptures should be printed or moved.
A Failure of Justice
The summons is also seen as a reaction to the government’s perceived failure to deliver justice in past cases of Be-adbi (sacrilege). The Jathedar criticized successive governments for failing to track down the masterminds behind the 2015 sacrilege incidents and the 2017 Maur Mandi blast, which claimed seven lives.
“The government should focus on catching the culprits rather than making laws in hiding,” the Jathedar stated, noting that many high-profile cases have been transferred out of Punjab due to poor prosecution.
The Demand for Release of “Bandi Singhs”
During the press conference, the Jathedar also addressed the long-standing demand for the release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners), including Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, whose case has been pending since 2012,. He criticized the central government’s “double standards,” pointing out that thousands of other prisoners have been pardoned while Sikh prisoners remain incarcerated despite millions of petitions
Next Steps
Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan is expected to appear at the Akal Takhat on the 8th at 11:00 AM to explain the government’s actions. The Jathedar concluded by warning that the Panth would not accept any law made without the confidence and advice of the Akal Takhat
