Amritsar: Sri Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar served as the venue for a significant Panthic gathering on Sunday, bringing together Sikh organisations, scholars, and legal experts to address mounting concerns over provincial governance. Following intense deliberations, the Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Kuldeep Singh Gadgaj, issued a formal summons to the Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, Kultar Singh Sandhwan. The Speaker has been directed to appear before the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs on May 8 at 11:00 AM to clarify the government’s position on recent legislative changes that have sparked widespread unease within the community.
The primary point of contention involves amendments to the Jagat Jyot Act, which governs the service, security, and protocols related to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The Jathedar alleged that the Punjab government bypassed traditional consultation processes, failing to involve either Sri Akal Takht Sahib or the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee before moving forward with these sensitive changes. During his address to the media, Jathedar Gadgaj emphasized that any decision impacting religious sanctity and the मर्यादा of the holy scriptures must necessarily include the input of the Panth, rather than being imposed unilaterally by administrative authorities.
Further alarm was raised during the meeting regarding a specific provision that reportedly requires certain religious data to be published on public websites. Panthic leaders argued that such a move could compromise the privacy and security of devotees and institutions alike. The gathering also served as a platform to voice long-standing frustrations over the lack of justice in the 2015 sacrilege cases. Despite several changes in the provincial administration, the Jathedar noted that the masterminds behind these incidents remain at large, while victims of other tragedies, such as the Maur bomb blast, continue to wait for a final resolution.
The session also focused heavily on the plight of “Bandi Singhs,” referring to Sikh prisoners who remain incarcerated despite having completed their original sentences. Particular attention was paid to the case of Balwant Singh Rajoana, whose petition has remained pending for an extended period without a definitive ruling. The Jathedar concluded by stating that the collective Sikh organisations are now standing in unity to ensure that the government does not interfere in the internal religious affairs of the community. As the deadline for the May 8 appearance approaches, the eyes of the Sikh world remain fixed on the Akal Takht to see how the Speaker and the government respond to these serious allegations.
