CM Mann must clarify whether “holy” status is being granted to the entire city or only to the corridors, as the corridors are already sacred: Pargat Singh* 

Says special session could have been held in Chandigarh; spending crores to exploit religious sentiments is wrong

Chandigarh/Sri Anandpur Sahib, November 24, 2025: Former Education Minister and MLA Pargat Singh has launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, raising objections to the proposal presented during the special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to declare three cities as “holy.” He demanded that the Chief Minister clarify whether Amritsar, Sri Anandpur Sahib, and Talwandi Sabo are being designated as “holy cities” or merely as “holy corridors,” since the corridors are already sacred. Within these corridors, there are already no liquor, cigarette, or meat shops.

Pargat Singh stated that though CM Mann responded to his question, he failed to clearly specify whether he was referring to the corridors or the entire cities. Instead, the CM explained that there had previously been no official government order, and that people had voluntarily refrained from such activities within the corridors. Now, according to him, the House is only giving official recognition to this practice.

The former Education Minister remarked that if the government is simply labeling corridors as “holy” and misleading the public by declaring entire cities sacred, it is completely wrong. If the government truly intends to declare the entire cities as holy, then it must be ready to strictly prohibit the sale and use of liquor, meat, tobacco, and other intoxicants throughout these cities. Will the government ensure that no such shops are allowed to operate there?

He demanded that the government immediately clarify its position on this issue to avoid any confusion among residents of these cities. The government should formally designate the entire cities as “holy” and impose a comprehensive ban on such activities, only then will the sanctity of these religious places be genuinely upheld.

Pargat Singh also criticized the government’s decision to hold the special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in Sri Anandpur Sahib. He said that the session, held to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, could well have been organized in Chandigarh. Spending crores of rupees under the pretext of religious reverence amounts to exploiting people’s religious sentiments. Such actions are tantamount to playing with public emotions.