ICF Calls Global NRI Sikh Meeting Over Punjab Sacrilege Law
The Indus Canada Foundation plans an international conference to review the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill-2026. Consequently, the organization is seeking Indian presidential intervention. CHANDIGARH — The Indus Canada Foundation (ICF) has voiced deep worries regarding the new Punjab sacrilege law. Recently, the Punjab government passed the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill-2026. This controversial legislation introduces life imprisonment for the desecration of the holy scripture. The Foundation holds the Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the highest reverence. However, it believes the new penal framework creates severe international complications. Therefore, this law directly impacts nearly 11 million diaspora Sikhs residing outside India. To address these anxieties, ICF President Vikram Bajwa announced a global virtual meeting. Gurdwaras and Sikh organizations from Canada, the USA, the UK, and Australia will join the online conference. Meanwhile, the foundation is actively seeking immediate intervention from the President of India. According to Bajwa, the younger generation of NRI Sikhs feels highly perplexed by the harsh punishments. He pointed out that Western democracies handle religious texts with a different legal approach. For instance, over 70 percent of hotels in the US and Canada place Bibles in guest rooms. In these spaces, visitors freely follow their own personal lifestyles. Bajwa emphasized that democratic nations view scriptures as sources of spiritual guidance rather than tools of fear. “Religious scriptures in democratic nations are intended to inspire introspection, spirituality, and moral guidance among people, rather than serving as a source of fear and punishment,” Bajwa stated. Furthermore, the ICF questioned the broad legal scope of the amendment. The organization fears that diaspora Sikhs might face legal ambiguity for keeping the holy scripture in their private homes. Bajwa asserted that the Punjab government does not own or print these scriptures. In addition, the state has no authority to regulate global religious traditions. Currently, no other major democracy enforces such stringent criminal laws for religious texts. Therefore, the foundation believes that political motives drove this legislation instead of a true religious consensus. Consequently, comprehensive consultations with international legal experts are already underway. The foundation plans to review the outcomes of the upcoming global meeting. Finally, the ICF intends to challenge the controversial law before the Supreme Court of India.
