Bathinda: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday claimed that opposition to Punjab’s stringent anti-sacrilege law stemmed from fears that it would eventually “reach the necks of those involved in sacrilege” as he launched a fresh attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal leadership and the SGPC.Addressing a Lok Milni programme at Panjgrain Kalan village in Faridkot district, Mann alleged that while the new law, Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, had been widely appreciated, it had not found favour with the Badal family and the SGPC. “The law will reach the necks of those involved in sacrilege,” he said.Mann accused the Badal family of using the Panth for political interests. “Guru Gobind Singh sacrificed his entire family for the Panth, but the Badals have sacrificed the Panth for their family,” he said, alleging that the family invoked panthic issues whenever it faced political difficulties.He alleged that the Badals had no claim to be custodians of the Panth and accused them of having a role in sacrilege incidents.The chief minister also asked women beneficiaries to keep an eye on their mobile phones on July 1, when notifications of the first payments under the Maava Dheeya Satkar Yojna would begin reaching them.He said women from the general category would receive Rs 3,000 and Scheduled Caste women Rs 4,500 as the first instalment, covering assistance for three months.Mann said the amount might not be substantial but would help women become financially self-reliant and spend according to their needs and responsibilities.The chief minister also highlighted his government’s initiatives in education, healthcare, free electricity and the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, saying Rs 660 crore had so far been spent on treatment under the health scheme.Punjab assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was also present at the programme.Farm group to protest tomorrowBKU (Ekta Sidhupur) has sought permission to stage a protest and meet Mann during his proposed visits to Mandi Kalan in Bathinda on June 23 and Mansa district on June 24. The organisation said it wanted to raise issues relating to the demolition of the Shambhu and Khanauri protest sites and compensation for tractors, trolleys and other belongings allegedly lost during the protests.
