Punjab Govt To Table Draft Bill For Stricter Sacrilege Punishment, CM Mann Assured Consultation

Chandigarh, Jul 10 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said his government will present in the state assembly a draft bill for harsher punishment against the sacrilege acts on Friday.

Addressing the media after chairing a cabinet meeting, Mann said the government will seek the opinion of all stakeholders and religious bodies for the proposed legislation.

The chief minister also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his foreign visits and said he finds time to tour foreign countries but “fails” to address the concerns of 140 crore Indians.

He criticized Modi for celebrating foreign honours from countries with populations as small as 10,000 while “neglecting” the nation’s pressing issues.

“Has he come back from Ghana? He will be welcomed upon his return. Do not know which countries he has been visiting. (But) he is not staying in the country where 140 crore people live. The countries which he is visiting have a population of 10,000,” he said, adding this reflects the sorry state of affairs in the country.

Replying to a question on the draft bill, Mann said, “We are drafting it. A law is going to be enacted. But for this, we will talk to stakeholders, religious organisations. We will present the draft legislation (in the assembly).” “But for the final draft, we will require time. After presenting it in the Vidhan Sabha, we will seek public opinion,” he said.

“We will speak to the religious bodies about how the law should be. We will take the (draft) bill to the public to seek their opinion for any amendments,” he added.

Replying to another question, Mann said like in Parliament when a bill is tabled it is forwarded to a consultative committee, suggesting that this draft bill may also be referred to the consultative committee here.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the draft bill on sacrilege may not include capital punishment.

On June 28, CM Mann had said that his government would bring a law for stricter punishment for sacrilege acts.

At that time, Mann had said the government would consult leading legal experts to ensure that a robust state legislation is enacted, ”one that prevents offenders from evading strict consequences, including the possibility of capital punishment for such heinous crimes.

The two-day special session of the Punjab Assembly began on Thursday here.

Mann further said his government will bring a resolution to reject the previous Congress government’s decision of giving consent for the deployment of CISF personnel at dams managed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board in the state.

He said the resolution will be brought in the state assembly on Friday.

Mann said that it was the Amarinder Singh government which gave consent for the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force at the dams. The then state government also agreed to bear the expenditure, he said.

The CM asserted that the Punjab Police is capable of protecting the dams in the state.

Highlighting reforms in the state police, Mann noted that efforts are underway to enhance manpower and resources in the Punjab Police, which hasn’t seen a manpower increase in years.

He said the government is committed to strengthening the force’s efficiency and upholding its proud legacy.

To a question on opposition parties criticizing the state’s land pooling policy, he said the government will not acquire any land.

Asked that the farmer bodies were too opposing the land pooling policy, he alleged that certain farmer unions no longer represent genuine farmer interests and have instead become self-serving entities.

Mann said the “self-proclaimed” farmer leaders are trying to mislead people on this issue.

He reiterated the state’s commitment to curbing illegal colonies through its proposed land pooling policy.

“You must believe that in Punjab, there are 19,000 illegal colonies and there is no such colony in Haryana. Even my rented house in Sangrur is also located in an illegal colony. The government will ensure legal colonies (through the policy). It will benefit people,” he said.

Mann also said the government would expose the “dubious character” of opposition leaders, including those from the Congress, during the assembly session.

He accused leaders like Sunil Jakhar and Partap Singh Bajwa of raising baseless issues, adding that they were least bothered about the state during their days in power.

Speaking on drug-related issues, Mann blamed the Akali regime for allegedly fostering the drug trade in the state and said those responsible for the same would face legal consequences for their actions.

The CM said his government has to send 1,500 best-performing women ‘sarpanches’ and ‘panches’ to Nanded Sahib in Maharashtra to pay obeisance.

The initiative is being undertaken to commemorate the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur.

He said the state government will bear the entire cost of boarding and lodging for women ‘sarpanches’ and ‘panches’.

Special trains will be arranged to facilitate their visit to the sacred site, and they will also receive training in Maharashtra, he said.

Mann took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his foreign visits and said he finds time to tour foreign countries but allegedly failed to address the concerns of 140 crore Indians. PTI CHS VSD KVK KVK KVK