Mann starts Shukrana Yatra after implementation of anti-sacrilege law

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday started a four-day 'Shukrana Yatra' after the implementation of the anti-sacrilege law. He embarked on the 'Shukrana Yatra' after paying obeisance at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Sri Anandpur Sahib.

Mann said those who remained hand-in-glove with the perpetrators of beadbi (sacrilege) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib during previous regimes would soon be put behind bars, asserting that Punjab now has a strict anti-sacrilege law in place.

The CM was accompanied by Minister Harjot Singh Bains in Sri Anandpur Sahib.

Mann said the yatra was being undertaken "to express gratitude to the Almighty for blessing him with the opportunity to serve humanity by enacting the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026, which provides for harsher punishment in 'beadbi' (sacrilege) cases".

The Punjab government last month notified the anti-sacrilege law — the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 — which proposes stricter punishment, including life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 25 lakh, for any act of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book. After Sri Anandpur Sahib, Mann also addressed gatherings at other places enroute the Yatra.

In Khatkar Kalan, legendary martyr Bhagat Singh's ancestral village, Mann addressed a gathering during the "Shukrana Yatra".

Addressing a gathering there, Mann said that while the Punjab Government is committed to following the path shown by the great martyrs, the dream of freedom envisioned by Bhagat Singh and other legendary martyrs still remains incomplete.

"This is not the India for which our martyrs sacrificed their lives. Today, divisive politics and attempts are constantly being made to create conflicts among communities. This goes against the very spirit of democracy and nationalism," he said.

The CM said that the Punjab government is continuously working to fulfil the aspirations of the freedom fighters and will never allow the sacrifices of the martyrs to fade away. Mann said that every incident of 'beadbi' deeply wounded the sentiments of millions of people.

He said that while people always hoped the culprits would be punished, legal loopholes repeatedly allowed the accused to walk free by claiming mental instability.

"Many times, accused escaped punishment by saying that their mind was disturbed or that they were mentally unstable. But if someone is truly mentally unstable, why does he target only Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji? Why does he not crash into a train engine or touch live electric wires? The truth is that many such acts were deliberate and orchestrated," Mann said.

The CM said to prevent misuse of such loopholes, strict provisions have been incorporated in the law under which even if an accused is medically declared mentally unstable, the custodians, parents, guardians or caretakers of that person will also face criminal charges.

In Rupnagar, Mann said that those who remained hand in glove with the perpetrators of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib during previous regimes would soon be put behind bars, asserting that the state government has now ensured strict legal punishment for anyone involved in desecration.

Mann said the anti-sacrilege would act as a permanent deterrent against 'beadbi' and ensure that no one dares to disturb Punjab's peace and communal harmony again.