Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Tuesday raised a significant concern in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha regarding the Justice Gurnam Singh Commission Report on the 1986 incidents. He pointed out that while a copy of the report is available in the Assembly, the crucial “action taken” section has mysteriously gone missing. Cheema urged Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan to initiate the formation of a committee to trace this missing portion. In response, the Speaker announced that a committee would be constituted to investigate and recover the absent report.
Speaking during the debate on the Punjab Prevention of Crime Against Religious Scriptures Bill, 2025, Minister Harpal Cheema emphasized that the missing section of the Commission’s findings is essential for the people of Punjab to understand the full truth of the 1986 events, to identify those responsible, and to evaluate the present conduct of their successors.
Minister Harpal Cheema used the historical context to highlight the need for accountability and the significance of the proposed bill. He noted that whenever a Shiromani Akali Dal or religiously-aligned government held power in Punjab, there were repeated attempts—direct or indirect—to desecrate the Guru Granth Sahib, seemingly aimed at destabilizing the state.
Recalling a painful episode, Minister Harpal Cheema referred to February 2, 1986, when five sacred Birs of Guru Granth Sahib were burned at Gurdwara Sahib Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Nakodar. Just two days later, on February 4, four young men—Ravinder Singh Littran, Baldhir Singh Ramgarh, Jhirmal Singh Gursiana, and Harminder Singh—were killed during a peaceful protest against the desecration, in a manner reminiscent of the Bargari protests.
He further stated that these incidents took place under a Shiromani Akali Dal-led government, with Surjit Singh Barnala as Chief Minister, Captain Kanwaljit Singh as Home Minister, and Sukhjinder Singh Khaira—the father of current Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira—serving as Education Minister. Minister Harpal Cheema lamented that despite the gravity of these events, no action was taken, and not even a single FIR was lodged by the then government.