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Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday witnessed a dramatic escalation as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh stirred the Assembly by putting in dock his own party’s government over the issue of inaction in the sensitive issue of sacrilege and related firing incidents.
 
Kunwar Vijay, a cop-turned-legislator, demanded a special one-day session to address the unresolved issues of sacrilege and the subsequent police firing incidents of 2015, besides calling for the tabling of Special Investigation Team (SIT) report, which investigates the police violence at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura — the demands that underscored mounting frustration with the State Government's inaction.
 
His move not only ignited a fervent debate but also compelled Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to break his silence on this emotionally charged issue. Addressing the Assembly, Mann pledged that the State Government is unwavering in its commitment to deliver justice for the victims of sacrilege and the police violence that followed.
 
Mann revealed that new evidence has surfaced, prompting the State to prepare a fresh report that will be legally vetted to ensure thorough accountability. He promised “no leniency” towards the perpetrators — highlighting a significant shift from the past administrations, which have been criticized for their perceived inadequacy in handling these grave issues.
 
The controversy dated back to 2015 when sacrilege incidents in Punjab led to massive protests and police firing incidents at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura. At the time, SAD-BJP combine government, led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, was in power.
 
Punjab Vidhan Sabha had initially withdrawn the investigation from the CBI, opting instead for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. Kunwar Vijay’s demand for a special Assembly session emphasized ongoing dissatisfaction with the handling of these cases and the urgent need for transparency and accountability.
 
Kunwar Vijay criticized the former governments, including the Badal-led SAD-BJP government and the Capt Amarinder Singh led Congress administration, accusing them of mishandling the investigations, which contributed to the High Court’s dismissal of the SIT report. Kunwar Vijay called for the SIT report to be tabled in the Assembly to ensure public scrutiny and facilitate a comprehensive debate on the issue.
 
He also highlighted the role of various officials, including ADGP Parmod Kumar and ADGP Arun Pal Singh, who were criticized for their lack of documentation during the SIT probe. He claimed that he was the only SIT member to write case diary on daily basis.
 
“Those defending the culprits behind the sacrilege and inflicting atrocities on the protesters are no more part of the elected representatives of the House…The Waheguru’s court has given them punishment. Justice must be given to Sikh sangat,” he reminded his own government.
 
In addition to addressing sacrilege and police firing, Kunwar Vijay also highlighted the struggles of Punjab’s farmers. Despite earlier promises, farmers continue to face significant challenges, including restrictions at the Shambu border. He urged the Assembly to extend its session to address both the sacrilege incidents and the broader issues affecting farmers.
 
He also renewed his call for legislation on Minimum Support Price (MSP), recalling election promises, made in the run up to Lok Sabha polls, to secure fair compensation for farmers. He stressed that the Punjab Assembly has the authority to create agricultural laws and called for prompt action to fulfill this critical promise.
 
Chief Minister Mann reiterated the government's resolve to pursue justice vigorously. He assured that the new report, incorporating recent findings, will be presented in the Court to build a strong case against those responsible for the sacrilege and police violence.
 
“The report has already been sent by the State Government for legal vetting so that no one escapes the gallows for their involvement in this crime. The day is not far away when the culprits of this heinous crime will be seen behind bars…Unlike the previous governments, we will not leave any stone unturned for this,” he said.