Kotakpura, May 7, 2026(Yes Punjab News)
Sea of humanity gave rousing reception to the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann during his Shukrana Yatra at the land which had witnessed horrendous scenes after the sacrilege and the firing on innocent protestors in 2016.
Addressing the massive gathering that converged to thank him for passing anti-sacrilege law, the Chief Minister said that previous governments deliberately failed to deliver justice in sacrilege cases linked to Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. He said that the earlier regimes lacked both intent and political will, while the current government has introduced stringent legal provisions to punish the guilty and safeguard Sikh religious sentiments.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Punjab Government has enacted a strict law against sacrilege, with provisions for punishment up to life imprisonment, to ensure that no one dares to disrespect Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in future.
The Chief Minister said that previous governments had ample opportunity to bring such legislation but failed to do so due to “ambiguous intentions” and alleged attempts to shield those responsible for sacrilege incidents. He further remarked that, in many cases earlier, accused persons escaped punishment under the pretext of mental instability. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the new law stipulates that the custodians of such persons will also be booked in case any desecration takes place in the state.
The Chief Minister said that the Almighty had bestowed him the service to serve humanity by enacting Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act 2026, which stipulates harsher punishment for sacrilege. He urged the people to go in the villages and make the masses aware that now anyone who will be found indulged in this heinous crime will be dealt with sternly and punished for this crime. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the previous rulers neither had intend nor will to enact law for checking the sacrilege due to which desecration of Sri Guru Granth sahib was a regular feature during their regimes.
However, the Chief Minister said that an act passed by the state government will put this to end as no one will ever dare to indulge in this unpardonable offence. Slamming the Akalis, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that they ordered firing on innocent people after they gathered to protest against the sacrilege across the state. He said that this land will ever stand as a testimony to the high handedness and the grave disrespect shown by the Akalis towards Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji and the Sikh panth.
The Chief Minister said that the present government is fully committed for the sanctity and respect of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and to ensure strict action against anyone involved in sacrilegious acts. He said that the government remains deeply committed to Sikh values and public sentiments adding that this land was witness to times which has bruised the psyche of the entire Sikh Sangat. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has now enacted this law to ensure that such incidents don’t happen in future.
Taking a dig at opposition parties, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann accused previous Akali and Congress governments of promoting nepotism and corruption while ignoring the welfare of common people. He asserted that the present government is working with honesty and accountability for every section of society. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has taken path breaking initiatives in every sector due to which complete transformation has been witnessed in these arenas.
The Chief Minister said that the tax payer’s money is being judiciously spent on the welfare of people adding that it is coming back to people through development, schools, hospitals, and roads. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is now working for people and has provided free electricity to 90% of households, jobs to over 65,000 youth without corruption, improved roads, closed toll plazas saving Rs 70 lakh daily, and is building infrastructure. He said that at the time when the state government had assumed the charge of office only 21% canal water was being used in the state for irrigation purposes.
However, the Chief Minister said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that today 68 % of the canal water is being used for irrigation purposes adding that this will be enhanced to 85% by the coming paddy season. He reiterated that the Punjab government has laid 14000 kilometres of pipes and watercourses across the state to facilitate the farmers of Punjab in every nook and corner. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 21000 cusecs of water has been released in these pipelines and watercourses to benefit the farmers in a big way by catering their irrigational needs.
The Chief Minister said that this water released by the state government is equal to water supplied by two bhakra canals adding that the farmers of the state will be immensely benefited by this move. He said that recharge points have been kept in the canals and rivers, so that water level is enhanced adding that water level has been enhanced upto two to four metre. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this decision is aimed at ensuring the well being of the coming generations as Punjab stands for water and without water the state has no existence.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has started Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana as per which every woman will be entitled for Rs 1,000 per month and Rs 1,500 per month for women belonging to Scheduled Castes. He said that funds will be directly transferred to bank accounts and women already receiving social security pensions will also be eligible. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 97% of women in Punjab are expected to benefit and the state government has allotted Rs 9,300 crore in the budget.
The Chief Minister said that Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna has been launched under which Health cards are being issued to all 65 lakh families in Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that every family is entitled to free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh and over 30 lakh beneficiaries have already received health cards. He said that 1.65 lakh people have received free treatment under this scheme adding he urged the people to take maximum benefit of these cards.
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