09-07-2025
The tower protest behind Punjab's anti-sacrilege bill push?
Patiala: Perched atop a tower in Samana since Oct 12, 2024, Gurjeet Singh Khalsa has become the symbol of a grassroots campaign demanding stringent laws against sacrilege in Punjab.
As the 42-year-old completed the 272nd day of his protest on Wednesday, his deteriorating health added urgency to a cause that has struck a deep chord across religious communities.
The Punjab govt has prepared a draft of the proposed Bill titled 'The Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Act, 2025'. While the draft awaits the governor's assent, pressure is mounting, both due to public sentiment and Khalsa's critical condition.
Khalsa, a dairy farmer from Khedi Nagaiya village on the Samana–Patran road, has vowed not to descend from the tower until the govt enacts a comprehensive law to curb sacrilege—irrespective of the religion involved.
From protest to policy
Gurpreet Singh, coordinator of the Sarv Dharam Beadbi Roko Kanoon Morcha, said the protest gained traction after the Punjab govt formally asked the morcha team—comprising legal experts—to draft the proposed legislation.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Initially titled 'The Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Books and Religious Places Act, 2025', the draft was submitted in late May. Following govt feedback, it was revised and re-submitted on July 3 with key changes.
"The title was modified to refer specifically to holy scriptures, and definitions related to religious places were omitted to streamline legal interpretation," Gurpreet Singh explained.
Body in decline, spirit unyielding
Khalsa's health significantly deteriorated over the course of the protest. Currently battling typhoid, he has been surviving solely on a liquid diet since Jan 11. "His condition is alarming. He's too weak to open his eyes or even sit up. There have been several instances of fainting. His pulse drops drastically, and he has not had a full night's sleep in weeks," Gurpreet Singh said.
Khalsa's activism was sparked by a sacrilege incident at Jandiala village in Jalandhar last year.
A week after he climbed the tower, local residents began joining in. The site soon became a place of gathering and reflection. In March, even Akal Takht jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj visited the site to express solidarity.
Back in Khedi Nagaiya village, Khalsa's wife, 17-year-old son, and extended family await the resolution of a struggle that has taken a significant toll on their lives.
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