Sukhbir Singh Badal Criticizes Punjab Government's Stance on Anti-Sacrilege Bill
Sukhbir accuses Mann of double standards on anti-sacrilege bill
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), accused the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of double standards regarding the anti-sacrilege bill. He emphasized the need for the bill, which mandates life sentences for sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib, to be ratified by the central government.
- 01Sukhbir Singh Badal criticized the Punjab government's handling of the anti-sacrilege bill.
- 02The anti-sacrilege bill, passed in 2016, has not yet been ratified by the central government.
- 03Badal highlighted the increase in sacrilege incidents over the past decade.
- 04He accused previous governments of being silent on sacrilege incidents during their tenures.
- 05Badal urged supporters to strengthen the SAD as a voice for the Sikh community.
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During a rally in Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda, Sukhbir Singh Badal (president of the Shiromani Akali Dal) accused the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, of double standards regarding the anti-sacrilege bill. The bill, which was passed in 2016 under the Akali regime, mandates a life sentence for anyone committing sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib but has yet to be ratified by the central government. Badal pointed out that there have been 597 sacrilege incidents in the last decade, with protests only occurring during the Akali regime. He alleged that certain agencies aimed to undermine Akali leadership by remaining silent during sacrilege incidents under Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) governments. Badal called on traditional party supporters to unite politically to reinforce the SAD's position as the voice of the Sikh community and Punjabis.
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The ongoing debate over the anti-sacrilege bill may influence public sentiment and political alliances in Punjab, particularly among the Sikh community.
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