In a bold initiative to protect the sanctity of religious scriptures, Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann’s government has introduced the Punjab Prevention of Offences against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025. Announcing this, Punjab’s Education and Information & Public Relations Minister Harjot Bains, said the legislation reflects the state’s unwavering commitment to upholding the respect and dignity of all faiths.
During his address in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, S. Bains recalled the painful memories of the Sikh community, referring to the attacks on the Golden Temple and Akal Takht. He noted that even today, the trauma remains etched in Amritsar, and justice for the Sikh genocide remains denied even after 41 years.
He strongly criticized those who claimed to be defenders of the Sikh Panth, accusing them of being complicit during sacrilegious acts when pages (“Angs”) of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib were desecrated in public. While the people of Punjab might overlook their lavish lifestyles and establishment of luxury properties like Sukhvilas, their disregard for the Guru’s teachings and violent suppression of those protesting against sacrilege is unforgivable, Bains remarked.
Minister Harjot Bains further alleged that past governments were involved in secret pacts that allowed both drug trafficking and sacrilegious activities to thrive. He described this as a decade-long plot to sever Punjab’s spiritual connection, leaving its youth entrapped in addiction and cut off from their heritage.
Highlighting Punjab’s deep spiritual roots, Minister Harjot Bains said the state is not only the birthplace of the Rigveda—the oldest known scripture—but also the land where the Ramayana was composed by Bhagwan Valmiki. Punjab is also where the revered Sri Guru Granth Sahib was compiled. He paid tribute to the countless Sikhs who have sacrificed their lives for the sanctity of the holy scripture, including Sikh soldiers who protected it under extreme conditions during World Wars I and II.
Minister Harjot Bains emphasized that the recent surge in desecration incidents has deeply hurt Sikh sentiments, and past government inaction only emboldened the culprits. In contrast, the Mann government has now taken a firm step with this new bill to safeguard the respect of all religions.
According to the minister, the bill gives a comprehensive definition of sacrilege—covering acts like burning, defacing, tearing, destroying, or damaging sacred texts such as the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Gutka Sahib, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Quran Sharif, and the Holy Bible. It proposes strict punishments: a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, extendable to life, along with fines between ₹5 lakh and ₹10 lakh. The offence will be non-bailable and non-compoundable, preventing easy bail or private settlement.
“This bill is a powerful declaration of our resolve to protect religious sentiments and preserve harmony in Punjab,” said Minister Harjot Bains. “It sends a clear message to those who intend to hurt people’s beliefs: such actions will not be tolerated.”