False propaganda, person in video, not me: Mann na Akal Takht edict against him

A day after Sikh clerics called him “Guru Dokhi” (anti-Guru) and “Khalsa Panth virodhi” (anti-Khalsa Panth) over an objectionable video, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday (Jun 16, 2026) said the person in the video is not him.

In a video message, the chief minister expressed astonishment at the top leaders of religious bodies “indulging in false propaganda at the behest of their political bosses” to defame him.

The matter stems from the summoning of Mr Mann by the Akal Takht, the supreme interim seat of the Sikhs, in January this year for allegedly commenting on ‘Guru ki Golak’ (gurdwara gift box) and indulging in “undesirable activities” with pictures of Sikh gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bh in a video clip.

In his video message on Tuesday (June 16, 2026), Mr Mann said a “hukamnama” (edict) had been issued against him over the video, which claimed he was depicted in it and was not created by AI.

“I completely reject this video,” he said.

Mr. Mann said that when he was summoned to the Akal Takht, he said that it was not him in the alleged video.

“The person seen in the video does not match my height and build,” he said.

“But I am surprised how people sitting in the highest positions of religious bodies are indulging in such false propaganda at the behest of their political bosses,” Mr Mann said, referring to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, who on Monday (June 15, 2026) issued an edict against the CM.

“They are indulging in mudslinging to smear me. Because I make decisions to protect water, ‘gurbani’, agriculture and youth, which they cannot tolerate at all,” Mr Mann said.

He said religion was used to defame him.

Mr. Mann said he considered the Akal Takht to be the highest body and had always been devoted to it.

Asked about the appointment of the Akal Takht Jathedar, Mr. Mann said, “The political appointments that have taken place there, the Sikh Sangat is very well aware of the kind of decisions that are taken there.”

He said it was absolutely wrong that they were trying to smear him.

“Punjab lives in my heart and I work for Punjab day and night,” he said.

Mr. Mann said the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee had earlier questioned why a law against sacrilege was not made.

“When the law was passed, they said why it was passed without consulting them and refused to accept it. It shows that they are changing the decision every day,” he said, referring to the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026.

The law proposes stiffer penalties, including life imprisonment for any act of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib.

Mr Mann claimed that the Akal Takht had no intention of taking action against those who “confessed” to the sacrilege and burning incidents on December 2, 2024 and was only making propaganda against him, he claimed.

On 1 December 2024, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal appeared before the Akal Takht when the Sikh clergy pronounced “tankhah” (religious punishment) for him and other leaders for “mistakes” committed by the party and its government in Punjab between 2007 and 2017.

The CM said that the final decision will be taken by the people. “I will continue to take decisions for Punjab,” he said.

Akal Takht Jathedar Gargajj on Monday (June 15, 2026) issued an edict against Mann from the ‘faseel’ (Akal Takht dais) in Amritsar, accusing the CM of lying about the alleged objectionable video hurting Sikh sentiments.

The announcement came after Gargajj claimed that the video circulating on social media was found to be “authentic” by two forensic laboratories. The video was neither edited nor created by AI, Gargajj said.

The Sikh clergy also summoned all Sikh MLAs, regardless of party affiliation, from the state and Punjab Cabinet before the Akal Takht on 29 June in connection with the anti-sacrilege bill.

Published – 16 Jun 2026 15:15 IST