Sukhbir Badal to Congress: Disclose names of leaders who shielded sacrilege accused
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, July 18, 2025: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal has demanded that the Congress party publicly reveal the names of all leaders who allegedly shielded those involved in the 2015 sacrilege incidents of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
The demand follows recent admissions by senior Congress leaders, which Badal claims confirm the party used the sensitive issue for political gain.
Citing statements made by Pargat Singh in the Vidhan Sabha and former Home Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa in a recent interview, Badal said these confessions make it imperative for the Congress party to “come clean” on the issue.
“Why did they indulge in politics on the sacrilege of the Sikh community’s living Guru?” he questioned.
Badal further accused both the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of being aligned on this issue.
He said that Randhawa’s comments about the failure of SITs (Special Investigation Teams) to deliver justice were telling, and alleged that the probe teams were created merely to mislead the public.
Highlighting the resignation of former IG Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, who later joined AAP, Badal said the circumstances suggest that parts of the Congress government believed the officer was politically aligned with AAP.
“This is proof that the police officer was playing politics with sacrilege cases,” he asserted.
Badal also demanded an independent probe into AAP's alleged role in all sacrilege incidents, especially after AAP legislator Naresh Yadav was convicted for committing sacrilege of the Quran Sharif in 2016.
He accused AAP ministers Harpal Cheema and Harjot Bains of defending Yadav and demanded their dismissal from the cabinet. He also called for criminal proceedings against them under the proposed Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025.
Further, he condemned AAP leader Sandeep Pathak for recommending Yadav’s candidacy from Mehrauli, Delhi, even after his conviction, and blamed AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal for approving it.
Badal concluded that these actions show deliberate political patronage of individuals involved in sacrilegious acts and called for accountability at the highest levels.