Chandigarh: The Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has urged the Union Government to give nod to The Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018 and The Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018 in order to ensure stringent punishment to those perpetrating the heinous crime of sacrilege of holy books.
In his letter, written to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Deputy Chief Minister wrote “I want to bring to your notice that sacrilege of holy books is becoming a major issue in Punjab. Shri Guru Granth Sahib is considered a living Guru and not an object by the Sikhs and it is accorded respect according to 'Sikh Maryada'. In this context, it was felt that the existing provisions of Section 295 and 295-A of the Indian Penal Code-1860 which provide for a punishment of up to three years are inadequate to deal with this situation."
The letter further stated that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha had passed the Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018 and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2018 which provides for punishment up to life imprisonment to whoever causing injury, damage or sacrilege to Guru Granth Sahib, Srimad Bhagwat Gita, Holy Quran and Holy Bible with the intention to hurt the religious feelings of the people.
“These Bills were given assent of by the Governor of Punjab in September 2018. However, these Bills are pending for assent of the President of India since October 2018. Punjab is a border state thus it is extremely necessary to maintain communal harmony here. For this, deterrent punishment is a must for those trying to disturb communal harmony by indulging in the sacrileges. So, I again request that the Presidential assent for the said Bills may kindly be obtained and conveyed to the State Government, at the earliest possible,” the Deputy CM said.
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