Speaking in the Assembly today in favor of the "Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill" introduced by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday, Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema expressed his profound gratitude to the Chief Minister for bringing necessary amendments to ensure stringent punishment for 'beadbi' (sacrilege).
Terming the amendment an honest effort by the Bhagwant Mann government, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema strongly criticized the opposition for attempting to mislead the public. He said that the amended bill introduces historic penal provisions, stipulating life imprisonment and a penalty of ₹25 lakh for those found guilty of 'beadbi', firmly categorizing the crime as a non-bailable offense.
During his address, the Finance Minister Cheema launched a scathing attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Congress, tracing the dark history of 'beadbi' incidents in the state back to the Nakodar killings. He pointed out that the tragic sequence of 'beadbi' events consistently began whenever SAD and BJP were in power in Punjab.
Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “On February 4, 1986, in Nakodar, police opened fire on Sikh youths who were peacefully protesting the burning of five Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at Sri Guru Arjan Dev Gurdwara Sahib. Four youths including Bhai Ravinder Singh (Littran), Bhai Harminder Singh (Chullupur), Bhai Baldhir Singh (Ramgarh), and Bhai Jhilman Singh (Gorsian) were martyred in this police firing.
Following the incident, the Justice Gurnam Singh Commission was formed. While the first part of the report was submitted, the second part mysteriously vanished.” Highlighting lack of action by previous governments, he continued, “Successive SAD-BJP governments from 1997 to 2002 and 2007 to 2017, as well as the Congress government from 2002 to 2007, made absolutely no effort to locate the missing report or deliver justice.
Ironically, officials held guilty in the Nakodar incident were later rewarded with prominent positions in government and political parties.” Addressing the 2015 incidents, the Cabinet Minister revealed that the SAD-BJP government actively attempted to destroy evidence, including tampering with bullet evidence from the Behbal Kalan firing.
Questioning SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal, he said, “How can a highly educated leader, who has served as an MP, Union Minister, and Deputy Chief Minister, claim to have been ‘pressured’ into such a confession after admitting his mistakes before Sri Akal Takht Sahib?” Criticising the Congress government, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema added, “The Congress completely failed to take action against the culprits.
They only formed Special Investigation Teams but never submitted the challans in court. Under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, we are working hard to provide justice to the people. We filed the challans to finally fix accountability.” Later, interacting with journalists following his assembly address, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema summarised the government's stance, emphasising that the history of the Shiromani Akali Dal is tainted regarding these issues.
He expressed strong optimism that the Punjab Governor will give his nod to the "Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026” without delay, respecting the sentiments of the people. He also challenged the BJP, questioning why the Union Government has not framed a similarly strict law regarding 'beadbi' at the national level.