Mann's Sacrilege Bill: Justice or 2027 election strategy?

Punjab passes tough anti-sacrilege law amid rising political, religious, and social tensions.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

In a high-stakes political maneuver ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls, the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has pushed through the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025—promising life imprisonment for sacrilege of any religious scripture, establishment of special courts, and parole-ineligible punishment.

While the bill is being projected as a landmark step to curb communal unrest and uphold the sanctity of all religions, the timing and political messaging behind the move reveal AAP's calculated bid to seize control of a volatile yet emotionally resonant issue in Punjab—with a clear focus on Panthic politics.

The Mann government has also made a conscious effort to appease all faiths by extending the bill's protections beyond the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. In addition to the Sikh scripture, the bill also criminalizes tearing, burning, defiling, or insulting other sacred texts including the Bhagavad Gita, the Holy Bible, and the Quran Sharif.

The move is widely seen as an attempt to signal respect for all religions and reinforce AAP's secular credentials.