India, May 8 -- In a significant escalation of the standoff between the Punjab government and the Sikh clergy, Akal Takht on Friday formally rejected the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026. Following an appearance by Punjab assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan before acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Giani Tek Singh Dhanaula, the clergy issued a stern 15-day ultimatum to the Aam Aadmi Party government to repeal the legislation.

The jathedar made it clear that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) will not comply with the Act's requirement to upload records of Guru Granth Sahib 'saroops (copies)' to a government-monitored website. He asserted that religiou...