Bibi Kiranjot Kaur Questions Punjab Government’s ‘Holy City’ Decision, Flags Sikh Traditions on Meat Practices

Chandigarh, December 16, 2025: SGPC member, senior Akali leader and granddaughter of Master Tara Singh, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur has raised strong objections to the Punjab government’s decision to grant Holy City status to three cities in the state, questioning the proposed restrictions linked to the move.

In a social media post, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur said that in Sikhism, tobacco and Kutha (Halal) meat are regarded as bajjar kurehit, or major religious prohibitions. She added that alcohol and other intoxicants are also forbidden under Sikh tenets, while Jhatka meat is the religiously sanctioned practice for Sikhs.

Referring to historical precedents, she stated that the Shiromani Akali Dal had organised a “Jhatka Conference” as early as 1935 to uphold the Sikh tradition of Jhatka meat. Highlighting Sikh history, she said there are numerous references to Sikh Gurus and Sikhs engaging in hunting. She cited an account of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, noting that during a solar eclipse at Kurukshetra, he is believed to have cooked deer meat.

Bibi Kiranjot Kaur also appealed to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president to formally lodge objections with the Punjab government over the issue. She called for a strict adherence to the Sikh code of conduct and cautioned against allowing Sikh traditions to be diluted or overshadowed by practices associated with deras.

The controversy follows a resolution passed during a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha at Anandpur Sahib on November 24, which proposed restrictions on the sale of meat and the closure of meat shops and restaurants in the proposed Holy Cities. The move has since sparked debate and objections from various sections.