The Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority for Sikhs, has expressed strong opposition to the recently amended anti-sacrilege law in Punjab, which was passed by the state Assembly on April 13, 2026. The law includes provisions for life imprisonment for acts of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj stated that the law was enacted without the necessary consultation with Sikh institutions, which he deemed unacceptable. A consensus was reached during a meeting of Sikh leaders in Amritsar, asserting that the law represents government interference in Sikh religious affairs. The Jathedar has summoned Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan for a detailed discussion on the law on May 8. While the Sikh leadership does not oppose strict penalties for sacrilege, they insist that matters related to the Guru Granth Sahib should remain internal to the community. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended the law, claiming it addresses past failures in punishing sacrilege incidents, stating that previous governments lacked the intent to enact such measures.