Sukhbir Singh Badal seeks disqualification of Delhi LoP Atishi over ‘blasphemous’ remarks on Sikh gurus
Sukhbir Singh Badal says remarks amounted to religious blasphemy and were intended to hurt Sikh religious sentiments
PTC Web Desk: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday urged Delhi Vidhan Sabha Speaker Vijender Gupta to disqualify Leader of Opposition Atishi as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, accusing her of making blasphemous remarks against the Sikh Guru Sahiban.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker, Sukhbir Singh Badal said he was deeply anguished by Atishi’s conduct, both as the president of the SAD and as a devout Sikh. He said from a legislative standpoint, her remarks amounted to a grave breach of privilege and contempt of the House, constituting conduct unbecoming of a legislator.
“A member who publicly insults the faith, Guru Sahiban and religious sentiments of the minority Sikh community forfeits not only moral legitimacy but also the constitutional right to remain a lawmaker,” the SAD chief stated.
Sukhbir Singh Badal said the remarks amounted to religious blasphemy (beadbi) under Sikh religious doctrine and were deliberately intended to hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community. He requested the Speaker to recommend registration of an FIR against Atishi under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code for hurting religious sentiments and Section 153A IPC for promoting enmity and disharmony between communities.
He warned that such statements posed a serious threat to the hard-earned atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in Punjab and across the country. He said the issue had evoked widespread concern among Sikhs worldwide and within Panthic institutions, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, under the guidance of the supreme Sikh religious authority, Shri Akal Takht Sahib.
Emphasising the spiritual significance of Sikh Gurus, Sukhbir Singh Badal said Guru Sahiban embodied the eternal spiritual sovereignty of Akal Purakh and represented universal values of truth, equality and brotherhood, transcending caste, creed, religion, language and region.
He urged the Speaker to set a strong precedent to ensure respect for all faiths, particularly minority communities, and uphold the constitutional values of harmony and mutual respect.