Poet Surjit Gag runs into trouble again

Tribune News Service

Ropar, January 11

Punjabi poet Surjit Gag is once again in trouble for his views on religious issues.

The district police registered a case under Section 295 (A) (hurting religious feelings) of the IPC here today.

Ropar SSP Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu said that a complaint was received by the district police from Assistant Inspector General of Police (Intelligence). With it was a copy of an essay on Dussehra reportedly written by Gag in which derogatory language was used for Hindu gods.

On July 9, 2017, he was arrested for a similar offence when a complaint was filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Gag had shared his poem ‘Main te Nanak’ (I and Nanak) on Facebook and the SGPC had alleged that the poet had equated himself with Guru Nanak and used derogatory words against Guru Nanak.

Gag, who works as a television technician, is known for writing poetry against the political establishment and religious leaders. He hails from Gag village near Anandpur Sahib. At loggerheads with Sikh hardliners, he claimed to have received threats from them.