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	<title>2015 Guru Granth Sahib desecration controversy - Revision history</title>
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		<title>Pruthviraj at 05:17, 25 November 2025</title>
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;{{Short description|none}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;2015 Guru Granth Sahib desecration&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (also known as the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;2015 Sri Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege&amp;#039;&amp;#039;)&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;HolyBook-FP&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; refers to a series of [[desecration]] incidents of the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Sikh Guru&amp;#039;&amp;#039; [[Guru Granth Sahib]]&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Explained-FP&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; and subsequent protests that took place in [[Punjab, India]] in October 2015, although it is known as the 2015 Guru Granth Sahib desecration it started from 2014 and continued until 2021.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Protest-ET&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; The first incident of desecration was reported from [[Bargari, Faridkot|Bargari]], [[Faridkot district]], where 110 torn Angs (pages) of the holy Book were found on 12 October.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;FoundTorn-Tribune&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; On the early morning of 14 October, two Sikhs were protesting and were shot dead by the police.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Garg |first=Balwant |date=14 October 2015 |title=2 dead in Kotkapura police firing |work=The Tribune |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/2-dead-in-kotkapura-police-firing-146172 |quote=Two Sikh activists were killed and over 50 others injured in clashes with the police following the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib ‘bir’ at Kotkapura early this morning.}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Events==&lt;br /&gt;
===Initial events===&lt;br /&gt;
On the afternoon of 1 June 2015, the [[Guru Granth Sahib]], the Sikh holy scripture, was taken from a [[gurdwara]] in a village called Burj Jawahar Singh Wala in [[Faridkot district]], [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]]. On 5 June, several Sikh leaders, including Baljit Singh Daduwal, gave an ultimatum to the police to find the culprits. On 11 June, members of various Sikh religious organisations held a protest in the village accusing the police of inaction. They tried to [[gherao]] (surround) the local police station. A large police unit was deployed to prevent it and 17 Sikhs were critically injured and taken to a nearby hospital due to &amp;#039;[[Baton charge|Lathi Charges]]&amp;#039; from the police.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Inaction-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Theft of &amp;#039;bir&amp;#039;: Daduwal alleges police inaction, leads protest|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/theft-of-bir-daduwal-alleges-police-inaction-leads-protest/92812.html|access-date=19 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=11 June 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On the morning of 12 October 2015, more than 110 Angs of the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] were found lying on the ground in front of a [[gurdwara]] in Bargari, [[Faridkot district]]. The residents of the town and nearby villages declared a [[bandh]]. The members of some Sikh religious organisation arrived in the town and in the evening a protest march carrying the torn Angs was held. In nearby [[Kotkapura]], protestors blocked a major highway intersection. Large numbers of police personnel were deployed to prevent violence. The protestors refused to unblock the highways, despite requests from the local police chiefs, demanding that the perpetrators to be arrested.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;FoundTorn-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Tension in Faridkot town after Angs(limbs) of holy Guru found torn|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/tension-in-faridkot-town-after-Angs-of-holy-Guru-found-torn/145307.html|access-date=19 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=13 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Other incidents and protests===&lt;br /&gt;
Between 13 and 16 October 2015, several more incidents of desecration were reported from various places in Punjab.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Explained-FP&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Explained: The Guru Granth Sahib serial desecrations that have sparked protests across Punjab|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/explained-the-guru-granth-sahib-serial-desecrations-that-have-sparked-protests-across-punjab-2477010.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[Firstpost]]|date=21 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; 35 Angs of the Guru Granth Sahib were found torn in Mishriwala village of [[Ferozepur district]]. When a member of the [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]] (SGPC) went to the village to get details, his car was vandalised by the Dalit-Majhabi-Sikh villagers. When he tried to escape on a motorcycle, the villagers also set fire to the motorcycle.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Conspiracy-IE&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=More desecrations of holy Guru: Conspiracy to disrupt peace, says Punjab CM Badal|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/more-desecrations-of-holy-Guru-conspiracy-to-disrupt-peace-says-punjab-cm-badal/|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=17 October 2015}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; 39 Angs of the Gur Granth Sahib were found torn in Bath village in [[Tarn Taran district]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Conspiracy-IE&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; Two days later, a protester in the village died of a cardiac arrest during a protest march.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Tarn-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=&amp;#039;Bir&amp;#039; desecration: Protesting villager dies in Tarn Taran|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/-bir-desecration-protesting-villager-dies-in-tarn-taran/147527.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=18 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In Kohrian village in Faridkot, a 3-inch cut was found 745 Angs of the Guru Granth Sahib. The villagers filed a complaint and decided against escalating the issue.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Conspiracy-IE&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; In Sarai Naga village in [[Muktsar district]], Angs of a copy of the Panj Granth, a smaller text containing selected verses from the Guru Granth Sahib,&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;MalhotraArora2003&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite book|author1=R. P. Malhotra|author2=Kuldeep Arora|title=Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Punjabi Literature: A-L|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WLAwnSA2uwQC&amp;amp;pg=PA395|year=2003|publisher=Global Vision Publishing House|isbn=978-81-87746-52-2|page=395}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; were found torn.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Conspiracy-IE&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Edge-Scroll&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Punjab remains on edge as protests mount over desecration of Sikh holy Guru|url=http://scroll.in/article/763468/punjab-remains-on-edge-as-protests-mount-over-desecration-of-sikh-holy-Guru|access-date=21 March 2016|work=Scroll.in|date=20 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In Gadani in [[Nawanshahr]], three Saroops were found burnt. The police managed to keep peace in the region.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Conspiracy-IE&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; In Kotli Ablu village in Muktsar, a gurdwara caught fire and its Bir of the Guru Granth Sahib were burnt to ashes.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;CopHurt-Tribune&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; In Kohrian village of [[Sangrur district]], some Angs of Guru Granth Sahib were reported torn.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Sangrur-Tri&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Torn Angs of &amp;#039;bir&amp;#039; found in Sangrur village|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/torn-Angs-of-bir-found-in-sangrur-village/146615.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=16 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On 13 October 2015, in Buttar Kalan village in [[Moga district]], protesters clashed with the police. Seven policemen were injured, among them, one received spinal injuries.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;CopHurt-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=10 cops hurt in Moga village arson|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/10-cops-hurt-in-moga-village-arson/145741.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=14 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; On 14 October 2015, around 6000 protesters gathered in Kotkapura and held a peaceful sit-in protest to demand action. In the early morning hours, the police started using [[water cannons]] and [[lathi charge]] to scatter the crowd. They fired some rounds at the mob. Two protesters died in the firing. More than 160 protesters were critically  injured in clashes, and 21 policemen were also injured. The [[Inspector General]] of [[Bhatinda]], Jatinder Jain, was among those injured.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ExchangeFire-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Two killed in Kotkapura as protesters, police exchange fire|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/two-killed-in-kotkapura-as-protesters-police-exchange-fire/145866.html|access-date=19 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=14 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The Senior Superintendent of Police of Faridkot, S. S. Mann, said that some of the protestors were armed with sharp weapons and told the government to put a ban on the Sikh Kirpan. The protesters also destroyed 10 vehicles of which 5 belonged to the police.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;TwoDead-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=2 dead in Kotkapura police firing|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/community/2-dead-in-kotkapura-police-firing/146172.html|access-date=19 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=15 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On 15 October 2015, the Punjab government announced the formation of a Judicial Commission headed retired [[Punjab and Haryana High Court]] judge Zora Singh to investigate the first incident of desecration.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;CommissionProbe-BS&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Judicial Commission set up to probe sacrilege in Punjab|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/judicial-commission-set-up-to-probe-sacrilege-in-punjab-115101501385_1.html|access-date=22 March 2016|work=[[Business Standard]]|date=15 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On 16 October 2015, the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab [[Sukhbir Singh Badal]] ordered the withdrawal of charges against the arrested protesters. He said that they were provoked to act in that manner. He also announced a reward of {{currency|1|INR}} [[crore]] for any information about the culprits.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;WithdrawalCases-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Sukhbir Badal orders withdrawal of cases against protesters|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/community/sukhbir-badal-orders-withdrawal-of-cases-against-protesters/146752.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=16 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Also on 16 October, in face of the protests, the [[Akal Takht]] revoked the pardon given to [[Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh]], the leader of [[Dera Sacha Sauda]], on 24 September 2015. He had been accused of [[blasphemy]] by appearing before a congregation while dressed as [[Guru Gobind Singh]] in 2007.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Akal-HT&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Akal Takht revokes pardon to Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/akal-takht-revokes-pardon-to-dera-head-gurmeet-ram-rahim/story-pUd4GpRu9tDkO9VBwbzKsK.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=17 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later, the police ruled out the role of Dera Sacha Sauda followers in the incidents saying that all 22 Dera Sacha Sauda followers were mentally unstable.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;HolyBook-FP&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Holy Guru sacrilege: Punjab police arrest two brothers, suspect Australian connection|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/bargari-village-holy-Guru-sacrilege-punjab-police-arrest-2-brothers-suspect-australian-connection-2476668.html|access-date=22 March 2016|work=[[Firstpost]]|date=21 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The protests spread over the [[Malwa, Punjab|Malwa]] region in Punjab. On 18 October 2015, the protesters blocked one location in every district from morning to afternoon. The protesters were seen carrying black flags, [[placard]]s, [[sword]]s and sticks.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Protest-ET&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Sikh protests continue over Guru Granth Sahib&amp;#039;s desecration|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sikh-protests-continue-over-guru-granth-sahibs-desecration/articleshow/49438769.cms|access-date=19 March 2016|work=[[The Economic Times]]|date=18 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
By  October 2021 there have been 272 Guru Granth Sahib desecration cases and 12 arrests.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Arrests===&lt;br /&gt;
On 19 October 2015, Jagdeep Singh, 30, a gurdwara &amp;#039;&amp;#039;granthi&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (priest) was arrested from Nijjapura village in [[Amritsar district]]. He had called the police and told them that three men had entered their gurdwara at night and tore pages of the holy book. However, on interrogation he admitted to lying.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;TwoHeld-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=&amp;#039;Granthi&amp;#039; among 2 held for sacrilege incidents in Amritsar, Ludhiana|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/-granthi-among-2-held-for-sacrilege-incidents-in-amritsar-ludhiana/147930.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=19 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Also on 19 October, a woman Balwinder Kaur, 53, was arrested for alleged desecration of the holy book in Ghawaddi, [[Ludhiana]]. She had allegedly entered the gurdwara early in the morning and desecrated pages of Guru Granth Sahib. She had served in the gurdwara for two decades.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;TwoHeld-Tribune&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; Balwinder later admitted to tearing the pages. Sikandar Singh, a &amp;#039;&amp;#039;sevadar&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (servitor), was charged with destroying evidence.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;SADActivist-Tribune&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On 20 October 2015, 10 companies of the central paramilitary forces were deployed across four districts.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ForcesDeployed-ET&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=&amp;#039;Granthi&amp;#039; among 2 held for sacrilege incidents in Amritsar, Ludhiana|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/central-forces-deployed-in-punjab-as-protests-continue/articleshow/49466715.cms|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Economic Times]]|date=20 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Also on 20 October, in Gurusar Mehraj of [[Bathinda district]] another desecration of the holy book was reported. On the same day, in Nagoke of [[Tarn Taran district]] a man was caught by the village attempting to commit desecration of the holy book. He was beaten up and handed over to three members of the Satkar Committee, a vigilante group,&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;BeatenUp-IT&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Elderly Sikhs beaten up for reciting the Guru Granth Sahib|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sikhs-beaten-guru-granth-sahib-gurdwara-punjab-250132-2015-04-24|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[India Today]]|date=25 April 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and the man later identified as one Malkit Singh, 34, could not be traced by the police.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ForcesDeployed-ET&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; The same day Deputy Chief Minister [[Sukhbir Singh Badal]] announced that the [[2014 Kabaddi World Cup|World Kabaddi Cup]] that was to be held in Punjab in November has been cancelled.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;KabaddiCancelled-DC&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Kabaddi World Cup cancelled after violence in Punjab|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/507494/kabaddi-world-cup-cancelled-violence.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=21 March 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; A series of arrests took place on 20 October. A &amp;#039;&amp;#039;granthi&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (priest) Jagdish Singh and his wife Lakhwinder Kaur were arrested from Nijjarpura village in [[Jandiala]] for damaging &amp;#039;&amp;#039;gutkas&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;pothis&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;SADActivist-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=SAD &amp;#039;activist&amp;#039;, granthi among five arrested for sacrilege|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/community/sad-activist--granthi-among-five-arrested-for-sacrilege/148145.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=20 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also on 20 October 2015, the police said that they arrested two brothers, Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh, of Panjgarayin village in Fardikot for their suspected role in the original desecration in Bargari. The police also said that they had telephone transcripts to prove that they had received funding and instructions from their foreign handlers in Australia and [[Dubai]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ForeingHand-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Police uncover foreign hand behind sacrilege|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/police-uncover-foreign-hand-behind-sacrilege/148780.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=20 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; However, on 22 October, the two callers came forth with their explanations. The caller from Melbourne, Australia, Sukhjit Singh, said that he had sent {{currency|150|AUD}} (about {{currency|7400|INR}}) meant for the people injured in the clashes with the police. Hardip Singh Khalsa, who was a truck driver in Dubai, said that he and some other Sikhs in Dubai had collected {{currency|100,000|INR}} for 4 people injured in the clashes. {{currency|25,000|INR}} of the sum was meant for Rupinder Singh.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;CallerClaim-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Dubai caller&amp;#039;s claim &amp;#039;belies&amp;#039; police theory|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/dubai-caller-s-claim-belies-police-theory/149477.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=22 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On 25 October, two more pages of Guru Granth Sahib were found desecrated in Ghurial, [[Adampur]]. The villagers accused a 50-year-old priest Avtar Singh Tari, and his nephew Ajit Singh of the crime and trashed them. They were rescued and arrested by the police.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Adampur-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Sacrilege in Adampur; villagers assault SGPC man|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/sacrilege-in-adampur-villagers-assault-sgpc-man/150570.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=26 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Also on 25 October, Suresh Arora was appointed the new [[Director General of Police]] (DGP) replacing Sumedh Singh Saini.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;DGP-HT&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/sumedh-saini-transferred-suresh-arora-is-punjab-dgp/story-vBIU3mXVjpGTjk0VVglUkK.html|title=Punjab violence: DGP Sumedh Singh Saini shifted by Badal govt|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=25 October 2016|access-date=22 March 2016}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On 1 November, the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Deputy Chief Minister said that the two brothers, Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh, had refused to undergo a polygraph test. Various Sikh groups demanded their release.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;CBI-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=CBI to probe Punjab sacrilege|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/cbi-to-probe-punjab-sacrilege/153404.html|access-date=22 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=2 November 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On 2 November 2015, the two brothers, Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh, were released from the police custody. They claimed that were tortured by the police to force them to admit to their crime. They said that they actually arrested on 17 October morning, but their arrest was reported only on 20 October. The police denied torturing them.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;HardenStance-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Sikh leaders harden stance as brothers allege police torture|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/sikh-leaders-harden-stance-as-brothers-allege-police-torture/154328.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=3 November 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Reactions===&lt;br /&gt;
====Political reactions====&lt;br /&gt;
Also on 18 October, [[Amarinder Singh]] of [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) political party demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and imposition of [[President&amp;#039;s rule]] in Punjab.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Resignation-DC&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Congress seeks Punjab CM&amp;#039;s resignation, President rule in Punjab|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/151017/nation-politics/article/congress-seeks-punjab-cms-resignation-president-rule-punjab|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=18 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; On 18 October 2015, [[Ramanjit Singh Sikki]], an [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] belonging to INC, resigned in protest.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;MLAQuits-IE&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Guru Granth Sahib desecration: Congress MLA quits, 3 Akali Dal leaders resign|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/guru-granth-sahib-desecration-congress-mla-quits-3-akali-dal-leaders-resign/|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=19 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Around this time, various politicians resigned from the ruling-party [[Shiromani Akali Dal]] (SAD). They included Mangat Rai Bansal,&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Bansal-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Former MLA Bansal quits Akali Dal, blames govt for unrest|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/former-mla-bansal-quits-akali-dal-blames-govt-for-unrest/148622.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)|The Tribune]]|date=20 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Rajinder Singh Sidhu,&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;SGPCResign-HT&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Another Nawanshahr SGPC member resigns against recent desecration of bir|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/another-nawanshahr-sgpc-member-resigns-against-recent-desecration-of-bir/story-9scoERK96oXdI7remGPtwO.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=17 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Bhaur.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;MoreSGPC-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=4 more SGPC members quit|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/community/4-more-sgpc-members-quit/147786.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=18 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Various members of the [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]] (SGPC) also submitted their resignations in protest, accusing the government of failing to protect the holy books.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;SGPCmember-Tribune&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=7 SGPC members quit, allege govt failure|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/7-sgpc-members-quit-allege-govt-failure/146716.html|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Tribune (India)]]|date=16 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;MoreSGPC-Tribune&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Sikh diaspora====&lt;br /&gt;
On 19 October 2015, about 1000 [[Sikhism in Canada|Canadian Sikhs]] held a [[candlelight vigil]] in [[British Columbia]] to mark their protest against the desecrations and the police action in Punjab. Canadian Minister [[Rob Nicholson (politician)|Rob Nicholson]] said that the media blackout and police action against peaceful protestors was appalling. Some symbols of the separatist [[Khalistan movement]] were displayed at the meeting.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Canada-HT&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Canada Sikhs protest desecration, &amp;#039;police repression&amp;#039; in Punjab|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/bc-sikhs-join-protests-against-desecration-of-scriptures-in-punjab/story-pKUPPYCW8qKVXxENW7BdKP.html|access-date=22 March 2016|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=19 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On 22 October 2015, a group of Sikh protesters gathered in front of the Indian [[High Commissioner (Commonwealth)|High Commission]] in central London to protest the events in Punjab. A small group of protesters turned to violence and a policeman was injured. About 20 protesters were arrested and charged with [[affray]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;SikhLives-TI-UK&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Sikh Lives Matter protest: One police officer injured after peaceful protest turns violent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sikh-lives-matter-protest-one-police-officer-injured-after-peaceful-protest-turns-violent-a6704846.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sikh-lives-matter-protest-one-police-officer-injured-after-peaceful-protest-turns-violent-a6704846.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=21 March 2016|work=[[The Independent (UK)|The Independent]]|date=22 October 2015}}{{cbignore}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In the US, several Sikh organisation, including American Sikh Council (ASC), North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) and Indian National Overseas Congress (INOC), condemned the desecration and killing of the protesters. They urged the central and state governments to bring the culprits to justice.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;USSikh-ET&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Sikh-Americans condemn desecration of Sikh holy book in Punjab|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sikh-americans-condemn-desecration-of-sikh-holy-book-in-punjab/articleshow/49490574.cms|access-date=22 March 2016|work=[[The Economic Times]]|date=22 October 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Aftermath==&lt;br /&gt;
On 20 November 2015, the Punjab Cabinet approved an amendment to the Section 295A of the [[Indian Penal Code]]. The new Section 295AA carried a maximum sentence of life in prison for sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;LifeTerm-BS&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Punjab Cabinet approves life term for sacrilege offenders|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/punjab-cabinet-approves-life-term-for-sacrilege-offenders-115111901329_1.html|access-date=22 March 2016|work=[[Business Standard]]|date=19 November 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The bill was passed on 22 March 2016.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;BringsLaw-IE&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news|title=Punjab brings law: life term for &amp;#039;sacrilege&amp;#039; of Guru Granth Sahib|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/now-life-imprisonment-for-anyone-who-causes-damage-to-guru-granth-sahib/#comments|access-date=23 March 2016|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=22 March 2016}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==References==&lt;br /&gt;
{{reflist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Sikhism-related controversies]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Sikh politics]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:2015 in India]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Controversies in India]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:2010s in Punjab, India]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Pruthviraj</name></author>
	</entry>
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