Alarmed over two incidents of attempted sacrilege within 24 hours in Punjab, the Central Government has issued an alert to the State Government, while hinting at more similar incidents. The Centre has asked the State authorities to enhance security of all religious places or shrines, including gurudwaras and deras.
Notably, two unidentified men were beaten to death in Amritsar and Kapurthala after they allegedly attempted to commit sacrilege.
The Centre has issued instructions to the State Government to increase security measures and closely monitor the situation at all religious shrines in the State to avoid such incidents.
It has been learnt that the religious places could be targeted to vitiate the atmosphere in the State, ahead of the polls scheduled to be held early next year. The Union Home Ministry has asked the State Government to increase the security of all gurdwaras, deras, temples, and all religious places in Punjab, warning that anti-national elements may try to incite religious sentiments in Punjab in the run up to elections.
The Centre is apprehending that attempts would be made to disturb Punjab’s atmosphere by using religious places. “Punjab’s religious harmony can be disturbed by incidents like sacrilege.” After the Centre’s input, the State Government has become alert.
Orders have been issued for installation of CCTV cameras and deployment of security personnel at all the religious places across Punjab,” a senior police official told The Pioneer.
Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu, reacting to the alleged sacrilege attempt at the Golden Temple in Amritsar and another at Kapurthala gurudwara, has demanded public execution for those accused of desecrating religious texts.
Sidhu, addressing a rally in Malerkotla on Sunday, said that conspiracies are being hatched to disturb peace in the State ahead of Assembly polls, scheduled to be held early next year. He added that “deliberate and malicious acts”, intended to outrage religious feelings, should be dealt with deterrent punishment.
“Conspiracy going on to disrupt Punjab’s peace. Wherever sacrilege takes place, be it of Quran Sharif or Bhagavad Gita or Guru Granth Sahib, they (guilty) should be hanged in public and given the biggest Constitutional punishment,” he said.
As several politicians, cutting across party lines, have condemned the sacrilege attempts in harsher possible words, Congress MP Abhisek Manu Singhvi condemned the lynching. Singhvi, also a renowned advocate, has asked the State Government to initiate strict action against those who took law in their own hands.
“Sacrilege is horrendous but lynching in a civilized country is no less horrendous. I request the authorities to take strict action against all who took law into their own hand and make an example out of them,” tweeted Singhvi.
Responding to Singhvi, Akal Takht Jathedar, n his Facebook page, stated, “We want to tell you that Sikh code of conduct, Sikh religious places, Sikh history and Guru Granth Sahib Ji were attacked to hurt Sikh sentiments after 1947 and instead of punishing them, efforts to save accused under Government shelter has hurt Sikhs psychologically”.
“More important question is that why did it come to the point where Sangat had to kill? When rule of law fails in providing justice by punishing those who committed sacrilege, then what should Sikhs do with their wounded hearts? What should victims of 1984 genocide, counting their last breaths while waiting for the justice, do? @DrAMSinghvi should explain,” said Akal Takht Jathedar.