Punjab Speaker Constitutes Select Committee For Consultaiton on Anti-Sacrilege Bill
Ravi Jakhu, Babushahi Network
Chandigarh, July 19, 2025 – Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Saturday announced the formation of a 15-member Select Committee to consult stakeholders and submit recommendations on the draft of the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025. The bill was introduced in the Assembly on July 15, 2025 but not passed.
The committee will be chaired by Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar, former Cabinet Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator. The panel includes representation from across the political parties in the House.
? Members of the Committee:
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AAP MLAs: Ajay Gupta, Amandeep Kaur Arora, Inderjit Kaur Mann, Jagdeep Kamboj, Baljinder Kaur, Neena Mittal, Budh Ram, Bram Shankar Jimpa, Mohd Jamil-Ur-Rehman, and Madan Lal Bagga
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Congress MLAs: Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal
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BJP MLA: Jangi Lal Mahajan
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SAD MLA: Manpreet Ayali
Punjab Advocate General Maninder Jit Singh Bedi will serve as an ex officio member of the committee.
According to the Speaker’s directive, the committee has been tasked with engaging stakeholders and experts before submitting its findings and suggestions. The final report is expected to be submitted within six months.
The Anti-Sacrilege Bill, introduced in a special session of the Punjab Assembly on July 15, 2025, aims to create a legal framework for preventing and penalising acts of sacrilege against sacred scriptures.