Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann embarked on a religious tour to Takht Sri Patna Sahib, the birth place of tenth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh, in Bihar on Monday.
The CM, in a statement, said his visit to Takht Patna Sahib was dedicated to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib ‘baani’ (verses) that speak about ‘sarbat da bhalla’ (welfare of all).
He said the Punjab government had constituted a strict anti-sacrilege law which had been welcomed by the global Sikh community.
The visit follows Mann’s recent ‘Shukrana Yatra’ (thanksgiving tour) of Punjab’s Sikh temporal seats — the Akal Takht in Amritsar, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo and other landmark Sikh sites.
The ‘yatra’ was categorically dedicated to the government’s ‘historic’ move of successful implementation of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 that deals with stern punishment in cases of ‘beadbi’ (anti-sacrilege).
The ‘Amendment Act 2026’ prescribes the most stringent attempt to tackle sacrilege in Punjab. Passed unanimously by the Vidhan Sabha and approved by the Governor in April 2026, it prescribes harsh penalties, including imprisonment ranging from seven years to life (till death) and substantial fines for acts of sacrilege.
By paying obeisance at Takht Sri Patna Sahib, which is one of the five highest seats of temporal authority — the CM has signalled to the global Sikh community that his government is deeply committed to protecting Panthic values. It has also tried to counter Opposition claims that the AAP government had failed to bring justice in the previous sacrilege cases.
The ‘sacrilege issue’ has remained emotionally and politically sensitive, particularly since the 2015 Bargari sacrilege incidents and the subsequent Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura police firing that claimed two innocent lives during the SAD-BJP regime and had altered the state’s political dynamics.
