Chandigarh: The Punjab government has approved a new amendment to the Indian Penal Code to provide life imprisonment to those involved in sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib. At present sacrilege is punishable by three-year imprisonment. "This step would act as a deterrent to prevent the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents (sacrilege) in future," deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal said.
The move follows over a dozen cases of Guru Granth Sahib desecrations in the past couple of months which triggered violent protests. Two protesters were killed when police fired on protesters in Faridkot last month.
The BJP welcomed the move, but added the government should seek a similar punishment for disrespect to Hindu idols in temples where prana pratishta (idol consecration) is followed even as one of the party's ministers attended the cabinet meeting.
"The Akali Dal must understand that Hindu gods are equally important to devotees and the faithful in Punjab. The same law must include disrespect at temples as well," said BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh.
The cabinet's decision coincided with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee to submit a memorandum seeking a Supreme Court probe into the killing of two protesters on October 14. He accused chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir of "stifling dissent and intimidating adversaries" in the letter.
