‘Shukrana Yatra’ Without Delivering Justice in Sacrilege Cases is Mere Political Drama: Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala
Exposes Mann Government’s Suspicious Role and Alleged Patronage to Accused in Sacrilege Cases with Facts

Los Angeles/ May 08, 2026
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

Punjab BJP spokesperson Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala sharply reacted to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s proposed “Shukrana Yatra” being taken out in the wake of amendments made to the anti-sacrilege Bill, questioning that when instead of ensuring justice in sacrilege cases, the accused are allegedly being shielded, then how can such a yatra be termed anything other than political theatrics?

Prof. Khiala said that Bhagwant Mann was in fact playing the religious card to conceal the failures of his government. Instead of discharging its responsibility in a highly sensitive and religious matter like sacrilege, the Mann government was allegedly attempting to mislead people for vote-bank politics.

He said that bringing a stringent law against sacrilege through the Punjab Vidhan Sabha was commendable, despite several shortcomings in it. However, as far as Bhagwant Mann’s “Shukrana Yatra” is concerned, the Mann government has no reason to remain under any illusion because people are fully aware of the deliberate dishonesty shown in delivering justice in sacrilege cases.

Raising serious questions over the government’s role in sacrilege cases, he said the people of Punjab want to know why Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann politically capitalised on promises of delivering justice within 24 hours in the Bargari sacrilege and Kotkapura firing cases, but even after four-and-a-half years, justice has still not been
delivered in these cases.

He further said that the public also deserves to know how all five cases related to sacrilege and the firing incidents were shifted from Faridkot to Chandigarh, and what explains the government’s silence on the matter.

Prof. Khiala said people also seriously want to know why, on April 29, 2025, consent was allegedly given in the Supreme Court in agreement with the accused side to halt further proceedings in the Bargari sacrilege cases being heard in the Chandigarh trial court, due to which the trial court proceedings could not move forward. He questioned how the intentions of
a government could be trusted if it itself appeared to be obstructing rather than advancing the judicial process.

He further stated that the results achieved so far in sacrilege cases have been deeply disappointing and clearly show that the government has failed to live up to its claims. The people, he said, have every right to know why, according to official figures, out of 597 sacrilege cases reported over the years, convictions have been secured in only 44 cases— barely one percent. He also questioned why appeals were not filed in the 99 cases where the accused were acquitted.

He said that if only 131 cases are presently under trial in courts, then how were 422 cases allegedly disposed of or diluted?

Prof. Khiala asserted that using matters connected with religious sentiments for political gains was completely wrong. Such actions not only hurt public sentiments but also weaken people’s faith in the justice delivery system.

In conclusion, he said that the Sikh community and Punjab need justice, not false political sympathy or political dramatics. Until the guilty are awarded strict punishment and sacrilege cases are disposed of on a priority basis, any so-called “Shukrana Yatra” carries no real meaning or moral legitimacy.