Amritsar, May 9 -- In a sharp escalation of standoff between the Punjab government and Sikh clergy, the Akal Takht on Friday formally rejected the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, which provides life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs.25 lakh for any act of "beadbi" (sacrilege) against the Guru Granth Sahib. The Akal Takht also issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to remove objectionable clauses which "hurt Sikh sentiments and interfere in Panthic affairs". The development came during Punjab assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan's appearance before Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Giani Tek Singh Dhanaula. The Akal Takht would provide the Punjab government with a panel of Sikh legal experts and former judges to help build consensus on the legislation. "Until the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) give their approval in this matter, Sikhs will not accept the law," he said. He warned that if the government failed to amend the law within 15 days, a meeting of the five Sikh clergy would be convened and "strict action" would follow. The acting jathedar also made it clear that the SGPC would not comply with the Act's requirement to upload records of Guru Granth Sahib 'saroops' (copies) to a government-monitored website. Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, who appeared before Akal Takht, said the government remained committed to Panthic sentiments and that apprehensions over the law could still be addressed through rules framed under it. The Akal Takht had summoned the Speaker to appear on May 8, questioning why the supremacy of the Sikhs' highest temporal seat was allegedly overlooked during formulation of the new anti-sacrilege law, which was notified by the Punjab government on April 20. "I cannot disclose much about the conversation, but I conveyed that we are committed to the Panth (Sikh community) and will act according to its sentiments. What we have already done was according to the sentiments of the Panth," Sandhwan said after his appearance before the Akal Takht. Rejecting allegations that the SGPC was not consulted, he said the government had issued newspaper advertisements seeking public suggestions before passing the legislation. "A stricter law for sacrilege culprits was the need of the hour and we enacted it," he said. "Rest, jathedar sahib has his own points on this law; only he and his representatives can explain them. If there are apprehensions over it, it could be addressed in the rules to be framed under this law." Giani Gargaj asserted that records concerning the Guru and matters linked to the sanctity of the "living Guru" fall exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Panth and cannot be subjected to "state-mandated digital surveillance". He said the Akal Takht had no objection to strict punishment for those guilty of sacrilege. However, he alleged that several provisions in the Act effectively placed Guru Granth Sahib, Sikh institutions, granthis, pathis, gurdwara committees and sewadars "within a legal framework in the manner of accused persons". "This amounts to direct government interference in Sikh affairs. The Khalsa Panth can never tolerate this," he said. He further argued that while laws could exist for those accused of sacrilege, "no law can be imposed upon Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh sangat and sewadars". The jathedar also objected to provisions mandating the publication of details regarding individuals possessing sacred 'birs' (scriptures) on the SGPC website, saying it could expose personal information of devout Sikhs to misuse by "anti-Sikh forces and mischievous elements". "As far as maintaining records is concerned, the SGPC already has a proper arrangement in place," he said. Giani Gargaj said the draft amendment had been prepared on the night of April 11 and passed by the Punjab assembly within two days on April 13 without wider consultation. He alleged that the government neither made the draft public in Punjabi nor sought objections from Sikh institutions, scholars or the Sikh Sangat before enacting the law. "No draft was sent either to Akal Takht or to the SGPC," he said. The clergy also criticised the terminology used in the legislation, particularly the replacement of the traditional Sikh term "bir" with "saroop". "The term 'bir' has been in use in Sikh traditions and maryada since old times, and removing the word from the law reflects the government's insensitive approach towards Sikh traditions," the acting jathedar said. Giani Gargaj was also critical of chief minister Bhagwant Mann's ongoing "Shukrana Yatra" celebrating the legislation across Punjab. He said the march directly challenged the supremacy of Akal Takht at a time when the Takht had already signalled its opposition to the law. "Temporal authorities cannot claim victory over matters of faith without the consensus of the sangat," he said, terming the campaign an "arrogance yatra"....