During a rally in Kotshamir village, Bathinda, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended the recently enacted anti-sacrilege law, stating that its rejection by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is irrelevant as it has been positively received by the Sikh community. Mann criticized the SAD, led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, for losing its electoral base and suggested that the party opposes the legislation due to its leaders' alleged past involvement in sacrilege cases. He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in divisive politics, particularly referencing recent violence in West Bengal as indicative of their approach. Mann highlighted the unique cultural harmony in Punjab between Sikhs and Hindus, urging the BJP to refrain from creating communal tensions. His comments reflect the Aam Aadmi Party's strategy to position itself as a defender of both religious sanctity and communal peace in anticipation of the 2027 assembly elections, challenging the SAD's historical role as the protector of Sikh interests.