His remarks came a day after AAP MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar submitted the Punjab government's response to objections raised by the Akal Takht regarding the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026.

On June 29, Jathedar Gargajj had directed the state government to address objections concerning the the anti-sacrilege law within a month.

Addressing the media here on Thursday, Gargajj directed all Sikh MLAs and the Cabinet ministers to ensure that during the Assembly session beginning on August 3, no discussion takes place on the anti-sacrilege law until consensus is reached with the Akal Takht Sahib and the SGPC on the issue, and not to give consent to any further amendments to the law.

Replying to a question on how Sikh MLAs should conduct themselves during the upcoming Assembly session in view of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann having been declared "Guru Dokhi", Gargajj said that the legislators should not engage with the CM and limit their interaction to the Speaker.

Referring to the government's response, the Jathedar (head priest) said it is clear that the AAP dispensation is not ready to make further amendments to the law in accordance with the sentiments conveyed by the Akal Takht.

He said the spirit of the consensus reached by the Sikh MLAs of the Punjab Legislative Assembly and the Cabinet ministers at Akal Takht Sahib on June 29 has not been reflected in the government's response.

The government has accepted only one of the objections and points raised by the Akal Takht, while it has continued to adopt a rigid stance on the remaining issues, said the jathedar.

Moreover, before sending its response, the government did not open the door for timely coordination, he said, adding that the response sent by the government is "unsatisfactory" and, therefore, cannot be accepted.

If the government wishes to continue discussions with the Akal Takht regarding the law, a five-member committee has been constituted for this purpose, Gargajj said.

He said the government should establish contact with the committee constituted by the Akal Takht and reach a consensus on the law, and this task should be completed within two months.

He said the door for dialogue from the side of the Akal Takht remains open, but the government should proceed with clear intent and not resort to any kind of cleverness.

Meanwhile, AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang asserted that the anti-sacrilege law is aimed solely at ensuring strictest punishment for those who deliberately commit acts of sacrilege and the government has no intention of interfering in Sikh religious affairs.

Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on Thursday, Kang said the AAP government brought the legislation in response to the long-standing demand of the Sikh community for a strong legal framework to prevent repeated incidents of sacrilege and ensure that those responsible do not escape punishment.

The government deeply respects the Akal Takht and all Sikh religious institutions, he said.

Gargajj said that when all Sikh MLAs and Cabinet Ministers visited the Akal Takht on June 29, they were made to understand the seriousness of the Sikh sentiments involved in the issue.

He said there had been consensus on removing both custodian-related clauses, but the government's response contains no such provision.

Instead, it only defends these clauses by referring to the rules being framed under the Act. If the government's representatives backtrack from the consensus they had given, the Akal Takht will take serious notice of the matter and appropriate action will be taken, said Gargajj.

He said it is the responsibility of all Sikh MLAs to recognise their duty as Sikhs and ask the government to amend the law in accordance with the Sikh sentiments recorded by the Akal Takht.

One cannot agree to directives at the Akal Takht Sahib and then resort to cleverness, noted Gargajj.

He said determining the 'custodian' is not within the jurisdiction of the government. The government's authority extends only to prescribing punishment for those guilty of sacrilege, and there is no objection even if such punishment is extremely stringent.

The jathedar made it clear that both custodian-related clauses must be removed because interference in religion will not be tolerated.

Gargajj said the government also has no authority to decide on assigning unique numbers to the holy 'Birs' (scriptures) of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Similarly, the Punjab government cannot decide how the record of the holy 'Birs' should be uploaded to a website or how a central register should be maintained, because these matters are part of the SGPC's internal administrative system, for which appropriate arrangements have already been made by the institution, he said.

Gargajj said that the government's response also states that if a Dera head instigates one of his followers to commit sacrilege, then under Section 2(1)(aa) of the Act, he too will be considered a custodian.

However, according to the Act, a 'custodian' is the person who is in possession of the holy 'Bir' of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Stating that this is a serious error in the government's response, he questioned how a person committing sacrilege could himself be considered the 'custodian'.

He said regarding the delivery of justice in sacrilege cases through fast track courts, the government has stated that it will take timely steps, but a specific provision to this effect must be incorporated into the Act.

Replying to a question regarding guidance sought by Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa on how Sikh MLAs should conduct themselves during the Assembly session in view of Chief Minister Mann having been declared "Guru Dokhi", Gargajj said that all Sikh MLAs should act according to their conscience inside the House.

"The Legislative Assembly is supreme, not the chief minister. Therefore, MLAs should distance thermogeneses from the CM, not engage with him, neither answer his questions nor ask him anything. Instead, they should address the Speaker while facing the Chair," said the jathedar.

On the anti-sacrilege law, the Akal Takht had raised several objections related to Sikh terminology, 'custodian' of the religious text and assigning unique numbers to the holy 'Birs'. (PTI)