Amritsar: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has convened a ‘Panthic Conference’ to deliberate on provisions of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 — a legislation that the Punjab govt says seeks to strengthen anti-sacrilege laws, but which has drawn criticism from several Sikh bodies.Talking to media here on Wednesday, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said the conference will be held at Baba Bakala on May 31, under the guidance of the Akal Takht.He said in recent meetings called to discuss the legislation, speakers had called for a larger gathering of all Sikh organisations to discuss the fallout of a law.Among the objections raised by Sikh bodies are provisions allegedly making granthis, gurdwara committees and devotees legally accountable in sacrilege cases, fears of increased police interference in gurdwara affairs, and the absence of consultations with Sikh institutions before enactment of the law. He clarified that the gathering was not being organised for confrontation, but to represent the objections and sentiments of the community. He also appealed to all Sikh organisations, including Damdami Taksal, Nihang Singh groups, Nirmala and Udasi sects, Kar Sewa saints, and all Sikh federations to participate in large numbers.Dhami said whenever amendments related to Sikh laws were made in the past, the SGPC had formally passed resolutions and submitted them to the govt. He cited examples, including amendments to the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, regarding reservation for women, and the 2008 law concerning the printing and publication of Guru Granth Sahib, for which resolutions were duly passed and forwarded. He said that the govt’s amendment related to Sehajdharis had also been struck down because no resolution had been passed by the SGPC regarding that amendment.However, he said that in the present case, the govt did not even consider it appropriate to share the draft of the amendment with the SGPC or Akal Takht before making changes to the law. According to him, this is the reason several clauses and terminologies in the law did not align with Sikh principles.He said there is no opposition to punishing those guilty of sacrilege under the amended laW. However, he said, Sikh congregations have objections to certain clauses and terminology related to religious maryada that they believe hurt Sikh sentiments. He said the govt should not adopt an adamant attitude in matters concerning Sikh sentiments. Referring to observations by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in a petition, he said the judiciary itself had emphasized that there should be no interference in religious matters.
