Chandigarh, April 13
Interacting with the media in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Ashwani Sharma, Working State President, Bharatiya Janata Party Punjab and MLA from Pathankot, said, “Laws function on intent; there must be intent. But the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann lacks intent. Before forming the government, Arvind Kejriwal had promised justice within 24 hours in the Bargari sacrilege case and said the culprits would be put behind bars. However, even after four years, no punishment has been delivered, and the government’s action in these cases has remained sluggish.”
Sharma stated that the judicial process in the Bargari sacrilege cases was deliberately slowed down. He pointed out that in May 2022, the Punjab Police SIT sought approval from the Home Department to prosecute the accused under Section 295A, but the approval was granted nearly two and a half years later, on October 21, 2024. He said such delay proves the government’s lack of seriousness and suggests attempts to shield the accused.
Sharma also raised concerns over the Punjab government’s role in the Supreme Court, stating that it is highly concerning that the government and the lawyers of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh filed similar affidavits. He alleged that the trials in the three major 2015 sacrilege cases— theft of the Guru Granth Sahib saroop, putting up objectionable posters, and recovery of torn pages—were influenced, and on April 29, 2025, the Supreme Court stayed the trial court proceedings.
Citing data, Sharma said that since June 1, 2015, a total of 597 sacrilege cases have been registered, out of which only 44 have resulted in convictions. He said that conviction in less than 10% of cases reflects weak prosecution and administrative failure. He further added that hearings are still ongoing in 131 cases, while a large number of cases have been cancelled or dismissed, indicating the government’s apathy towards the justice system.
Sharma questioned the “Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025,” stating that it proposed life imprisonment for insulting sacred texts of all major religions, including Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Gita, Quran Sharif, and the Bible. He noted that the bill was sent to a Select Committee with a mandate to report within six months, but even after eight months, its status remains unclear—reflecting lack of seriousness and policy direction.
Speaking on the “Jagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Amendment Bill, 2026,” Sharma said the government is proceeding on this sensitive issue without wider consultation. He pointed out that neither the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) nor other recognized religious organizations were consulted, calling it against the spirit of the 1959 Nehru–Tara Singh agreement.
Sharma stated that the government is creating imbalance by bringing laws focused on one religion while ignoring others. He emphasized that all religions’ sacred texts , idols, etc must be equally respected and the law should be uniform for all. Concluding his remarks, Sharma said that the AAP government is raising such issues to divert attention from its failures. He demanded that the government ensure fair, transparent, and effective action in sacrilege cases and deliver strict punishment to the guilty at the earliest, to restore public faith in the justice system.
