Punjab’s Anti-Sacrilege Law Sparks Clash Between AAP Government and Akal Takht
The backdrop of Punjab’s new anti-sacrilege law lies in the sacrilege incidents of 2015, when a Bir (copy) of the Guru Granth Sahib was stolen from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala, and its torn pages were subsequently found in Bargari. The SAD-BJP government failed to resolve this case, triggering massive public outrage that ultimately led to its defeat in the 2017 elections. Subsequently, followers of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim were arrested, but the investigation could not be brought to a conclusion. Ahead of the 2022 elections, the AAP promised to deliver justice within 24 hours and projected IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh as the face of this campaign; however, he was later sidelined and expelled from the party.