CHANDIGARH —The Panch Pradhani Jatha has issued a strong statement regarding the Punjab government’s recent legislative actions concerning Sikh religious affairs, seeking the immediate and complete repeal of the newly introduced ‘Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act 2026’ alongside the original 2008 law. A copy of the written release issued by Panch Pardhani Jatha is available with the Sikh Siyasat News (SSN).

Government Interference in Khalsa Panth’s Domain

According to the joint statement, the current Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s legislative moves regarding the Maryada (code of conduct) of the Khalsa Panth represent an unprincipled overreach. The Panch Pardhani Jatha described the 2026 amendment as an “unprincipled and baseless interference by a worldly government into the sovereign domain of the Khalsa Panth,” asserting that it must be entirely withdrawn.

The Jatha highlights that the root cause of the current crisis is the original ‘Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act 2008,’ which was enacted by the then-Badal Dal government following a resolution passed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) General House.

SGPC Leadership Criticized for Weak Stance

The press release, issued by Panch Pradhani Jatha spokesperson Parmjeet Singh Gazi, included insights from prominent Sikh figures: Bhai Daljit Singh, Bhai Narayan Singh, Bhai Bhupinder Singh, Bhai Satnam Singh Khandewala, Bhai Satnam Singh Jhanjian, and Bhai Hardeep Singh Mehraj.

They collectively emphasized the sovereignty of Sikh institutions:

“The authority of any worldly government cannot be imposed upon Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and the Khalsa Panth is fully capable of resolving issues related to the reverence and Maryada of the Guru.”

The Panch Pardhani Jatha said SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami and Giani Kuldeep Singh Garhgajj were following the directives of the Badal Dal core committee. Instead of insisting on a total rejection of the Act, the SGPC leadership has only proposed minor amendments, as directed by the core committee of the Badal Dal.

“Doing so would be equivalent to paving the way for permanent government interference in matters of Maryada, which must not be accepted at any cost,” the statement read.

The Jatha said that the SGPC should pass a new resolution in its General House to annul the previous “unprincipled” resolutions and advocate for the scrapping of the entire law, including its amendments.

Historical Warnings Become Reality

Reflecting on past events, the Jatha noted that in 2007, aware Sikh students under the then- Sikh Students Federation leadership had cautioned suggesting instead that issues be resolved internally through a Gurmata (a collective Panthic resolution).

The release grimly noted that the fears expressed in 2007 have now become a reality.

Call for Global Khalsa Unity and Panthic Sovereignty

Addressing internal divisions within the Sikh circles regarding the law, the Panch Pradhani Jatha advised Sikhs to awaken to their Khalsa consciousness and serve as guards of the ‘Guru Granth-Guru Panth’ principle. The Jatha warned that bringing Sri Guru Granth Sahib under the bondage of state’s law and compromising the sovereignty of the Khalsa Panth is a grave “gunaah” that must be avoided at all costs.

To navigate the current era of instability and uncertainty, the Panch Pardhani Jatha proposed a long-term solution:

• Restoration of Traditions: Reviving the Sarbat Khalsa and Gurmata traditions.

• Independent Panthic Management: Establishing a global organization of selfless Gurmukhs to manage Panthic affairs at Sri Akal Takht Sahib independently.

• Self-Governance: Ensuring that decisions regarding the Khalsa Panth are made by the Panth itself though Gurmata, rather than the state/s.

⊕ READ FULL TEXT OF AFORESAID STATEMENT OF PANCH PARDHANI JATHA at PANTHSEWAK.COM