Punjab's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and opposition Sikh MLAs appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib today to explain their stand on Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026 which was passed by Punjab Assembly and has become centre of a controversy after objections were raised that it was approved without obtaining consent of Sri Akal Takht Sahib which is highest temporal authority of Sikhs and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
Earlier Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj had announced that Sikh MLAs and Cabinet Ministers would be called to seek clarification on the matter and had also stated that no interference in authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib would be tolerated and maintained that matters related to Sikh faith should remain under jurisdiction of Sikh Panth.
On Monday Sikh ministers and MLAs presented their clarification before five Sikh high priests led by acting Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and as existing secretariat did not have enough space the proceedings were held in a specially erected pandal inside the hall of the under-construction new secretariat building opposite present Akal Takht Secretariat.
According to available information Jathedar was expected to ask each Sikh MLA whether they had personally supported Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026 and whether they continued to support or oppose the law after the objections raised by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, MLAs were expected to give brief replies explaining their individual stand on the legislation.
Sources also indicated that a separate meeting may be held with Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Punjab ministers to discuss possible amendments to the Act and it is also learnt that one or two legislators each from ruling AAP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal may be asked to present their respective party's stand on the issue.
Punjab Assembly has a total of 117 MLAs including 89 Sikh legislators and 28 non-Sikh legislators while Sikh MLAs were asked to appear in person before Sikh high priests the non-Sikh MLAs were requested to submit their views in writing and among the Sikh legislators around 50 including women MLAs are keshadhari Sikhs while 38 are considered patit Sikhs. As per established norms of Sri Akal Takht Sahib patit Sikhs are not summoned to front courtyard of Akal Takht and keeping these norms in mind all Sikh MLAs were instead asked to appear in hall of the under-construction new secretariat building.
Speaking to the media earlier Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj said that Sri Akal Takht Sahib was established by the sixth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib, and is the supreme temporal seat of the Sikh community and said every Sikh who follows the teachings of Guru Nanak is devoted to Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
The Jathedar further said that amendments made to the 2008 law had resulted in government interference in Sikh religious matters without the consent of the Khalsa Panth and while ignoring Sikh institutions and maintained that issues concerning Sikh traditions respect for Guru Sahib and relationship between Guru and Sikhs fall under authority of Panth and not the government.
He appealed to the Sikh Sangat to always follow principles of Guru Granth Sahib and Guru Panth and said every Sikh has a duty to respect sentiments of the Panth, referring to Sikh beliefs he said Guru Sahib bestowed spiritual Guruship upon Guru Granth Sahib and physical Guruship upon Guru Khalsa Panth and therefore decisions of the Panth should be respected.
Responding to a question regarding a statement made by Jeevan Jyot Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj quoted Gurbani and said that if anyone speaks wrongly Guru Sahib and the Sangat themselves will take account of that person and added that he does not hold hostility towards anyone and instead prays for wisdom, Panthic unity and welfare of all.
