Amritsar, May 7, 2026(Yes Punjab News)
Punjab witnessed scenes of massive public participation and emotional religious fervour on Thursday as thousands of people poured onto roads across the Majha region to welcome CM Bhagwant Singh Mann during the second day of the ongoing “Shukrana Yatra”. The yatra was launched to express gratitude to the Almighty after the Punjab Assembly unanimously passed the historic Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026.
Beginning the day by paying obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann thanked the Almighty for blessing his Government with the opportunity to enact what he described as the country’s strictest anti-beadbi law. Throughout the yatra across Amritsar, Raiya, Kartarpur, Adampur and other parts of Majha, people lined roads in large numbers, showered flower petals, stopped the Chief Minister’s convoy to honour him with siropas and hailed the legislation as a historic step to protect the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Riding in an open sunroof vehicle during the yatra, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann received a rousing welcome at multiple places as people garlanded him and showered flower petals on his convoy amid chants in support of the legislation.
Addressing gatherings during the yatra, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that those committing beadbi in Punjab would no longer escape punishment. He stated that the new law ensures no bail after FIR registration, punishment ranging from a minimum of 10 years imprisonment to life imprisonment till death, along with fines up to ₹50 lakh. “Earlier, those responsible for beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji used to walk free, deeply hurting the sentiments of the Panth. Now no one will dare to commit such a heinous crime,” he asserted.
Calling the yatra a spiritual journey rather than a political exercise, the Chief Minister said the entire Sikh sangat across Punjab and the world had welcomed the law wholeheartedly. “The entire sangat has accepted the law; only one family is opposing it,” remarked CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, targeting the Badal family and the Akali leadership for resisting the legislation.
The Chief Minister stated that sacrilege incidents were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy aimed at disturbing Punjab’s communal harmony and brotherhood. Emphasising Punjab’s tradition of unity, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said divisive politics would never succeed in the state. “Punjab’s soil is fertile and every seed grows here, but the seed of hatred can never germinate on this land. BJP and Akalis want to divide Sikhs and Hindus, but Punjabis will never allow that,” he said.
Launching a broader attack on the BJP, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann accused the Centre of repeatedly taking anti-Punjab decisions, including during the farmers’ agitation in which over 700 farmers lost their lives. He also alleged attempts to weaken Punjab’s rights over Chandigarh, Panjab University and river waters. Referring to recent bomb blasts in Jalandhar and Amritsar, the Chief Minister said such incidents reflected attempts to create fear and instability in Punjab before elections.
Highlighting his Government’s work over the last four years, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said nearly 90% households in Punjab were receiving free electricity, more than 65,000 government jobs had been provided on merit, canals had been revived, world-class schools and hospitals were being built and every family was now entitled to cashless treatment up to ₹10 lakh under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna.
He also announced that after the anti-beadbi law, the Punjab Government would soon bring a strict anti-drug law under which properties of smugglers would be confiscated and stringent punishment ensured.
FOLLOW NOW
