Chandigarh, June 16: A major political and religious controversy erupted in Punjab after the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, declared Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann a “Guru-Dokhi” (one who has offended the Guru) and “Panth Virodhi” (anti-community) over an alleged objectionable video that reportedly hurt Sikh sentiments.
The declaration was made by Akal Takht Acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj following a meeting of Sikh clergy and representatives of various Panthic organisations. The Sikh leadership urged members of the Sikh community to sever social, religious and public ties with the Chief Minister.
According to the Akal Takht, two forensic examinations conducted by government-recognised laboratories concluded that the controversial video was authentic and showed no signs of tampering or AI-generated manipulation. Sikh clergy claimed the footage contained actions considered offensive to Sikh religious sentiments.
The Akal Takht stated that Bhagwant Mann had earlier denied the authenticity of the video when summoned for clarification and had described it as AI-generated. Sikh leaders alleged that despite being asked to suggest a forensic laboratory for examination of the footage, the Chief Minister’s office did not respond.
A resolution adopted by the Sikh clergy stated that the office of the Chief Minister carries immense responsibility and that any actions perceived as disrespectful towards Sikh religious symbols were unacceptable. The resolution declared Mann “Guru-Dokhi” and “anti-Panthic” and appealed to the Sikh community to distance itself from him.
In a separate directive, the Akal Takht also summoned Sikh MLAs and Cabinet Ministers who supported the recently enacted anti-sacrilege legislation to appear before it on June 29. Sikh clergy reiterated that matters concerning Sikh religious institutions and the Guru Granth Sahib fall within the jurisdiction of the Sikh Panth.
The development is expected to deepen tensions between the Punjab Government and Sikh religious leadership over religious administration and the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged viral video.
Meanwhile, opposition parties intensified their attack on the Chief Minister. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring demanded Mann’s resignation, while BJP spokesperson RP Singh said the Akal Takht’s declaration raised serious questions about his continuation in office.
The Aam Aadmi Party strongly rejected the allegations. Punjab AAP leader Baltej Pannu questioned the forensic findings, arguing that the reports did not conclusively establish the identity of the individual seen in the video. He accused political opponents of attempting to defame the Chief Minister and maintained that the truth would soon be placed before the public.
The controversy has triggered a fresh political storm in Punjab, with religious, political and legal implications likely to dominate public discourse in the coming days.
