Winter Session: AAP MP Raghav Chadha Demands Discussion On Sacrilege Cases, Seeks Stringent Punishment

The AAP MP has issued a Suspension of Business notice under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha to discuss amendments to the laws.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha on Friday raised the issue of sacrilege incidents in Punjab as he issued a Suspension of Business notice under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha to discuss amendments to the laws. Chadha has appealed to ensure severe punishment for the culprits in sacrilege incidents.

"The following motion for suspension of business listed under Rule 29 for 16th December," he stated. "This House should discuss the increasing cases of sacrilege by suspending the work listed under Rule 29. This is such an issue because of which there is anger among Punjabis living all over the world," he added.

In his letter, he mentioned that in the last few years, several attempts at the desecration of Guru Sahib had taken place in Punjab. He mentioned incidents such as the desecration of Shri Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari and holy Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta in Ludhiana in the year 2015. 

"Incidents of sacrilege of Holy Shrimad Bhagwat Gita, Holy Bible, and Holy Quran are also coming to the fore," he wrote.

The punishment prescribed for the crime in Sections 295 and 295A of IPC is less severe, he noted, blaming the same for these incidents.

There is an urgent need to amend the law so those who commit sacrilege can be punished with life imprisonment or even more severe punishment, the MP demanded as he recommended that the House consider amending the Indian Panel Code.

Earlier this week, Raghav Chadha on Tuesday moved the suspension of business notice under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the India-China face-off along the Line of Actual Control in Tawang sector, Arunachal Pradesh on December 9.

"I hereby give notice under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) of my intention to move the following motion for suspension of business listed for 13th December 2022", said Chadha in the letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.

"That this house do suspend Zero Hour and other relevant rules relating to Question Hour and other businesses of the day to have a discussion on transgression by Chinese Army (PLA) at the Line of Actual Control in Tawang Sector of Arunachal Pradesh resulting in injury to our soldiers," he stated in the letter.