‘Not Me’: Bhagwant Mann Rejects Controversial Video After Akal Takht Declares Him Anti-Guru; BJP slams Punjab CM’s news today
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has found himself at the center of a controversy after a viral video showed a man “reminding” him of insulting Sikh sentiments. However, Mann played down the allegations, accusing political opponents of spreading “false propaganda” to smear him.
According to PTI, the matter stems from Manna being summoned 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 images of Sikh gurus and a slain militant Bhindwalported in a video.
Read also | Bhagwant Mann to become Punjab CM again in 2027, says Kejriwal
On Monday, the Akal Takht declared Mann a “Guru Dokhi” (anti-Guru) and “Khalsa Panth Virodhi” (anti-Khalsa Panth) and ordered community members to “avoid association” with him after the chief minister was accused of lying about an alleged objectionable video hurting Sikh sentiments.
What the viral video shows
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leader Tajinder Bagga claimed that the video showed “Bhagwanta Manna consuming alcohol and splashing liquor on photographs of Sikh gurus”.
Bagga claimed that “Shri Akal Takht Sahib sent the video for forensic examination to two laboratories. According to Jathedar Sahib, both reports found no signs of AI generation, fabrication or manipulation.”
Read also | Bhagwant Mann to become Punjab CM again in 2027, says Kejriwal
Akal Takht Sahib is the highest institution for Sikhs and its decisions are respected by the community, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Bhagwant Singh Sialka was quoted as saying by PTI.
“This Akal Takht Sahib is the highest institution of the Sikhs and everyone is forgiven if they come and bow, if they come with humility. And if one shows arrogance, then he is punished by the Takht Sahib,” Sialka said.
Sialka also criticized Mann, arguing that putting the state in the hands of a man “who doesn’t know what he’s doing” raises concerns about governance.
“Bhagwant Singh Mann is a supreme alcoholic. The handover will rein in the state by making a man a CM who doesn’t even know what he is doing,” Sialka was quoted as saying.
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla also attacked Bhagwant Mann after the Akal Takht allegedly declared the Punjab CM “anti-Guru” ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls, alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Mann had offended Sikh sentiments.
Read also | Delhi air pollution: Bhagwant Mann says smoke from Punjab won’t reach capital
In an interview with ANI, Poonawalla referred to the viral video and claimed that the Akal Takht had identified it as authentic.
“Look, the decision of Akal Takht has come. The way the video of Bhagwant Mann has surfaced in which Gurus are being insulted. Bhagwant Mann, under the influence of alcohol, is doing unacceptable acts. Akal Takht has clarified that the video is not created by AI or fake; it is a very shameful video,” says Powalla. It’s a really embarrassing video.
Poonawalla alleged that the Akal Takht called Mann and the AAP “anti-communal, anti-Sikh and anti-guru”.
“Now the Akal Takht has decided that Bhagwant Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party are actually anti-community, anti-Sikh and anti-guru. I think any other person would have resigned on moral grounds. But Kejriwal ji is so anti-Sikh that he is letting a chief minister like Bhagwant Mann continue,” he said.
Bhagwant Mann Says “I’m Not Appearing In That Video At All”
A day after the Sikh clergy called him “Guru Dokhi” (anti-Guru) and “Khalsa Panth virodhi” (anti-Khalsa Panth) over the “undesirable” video, Bhagwant Mann denied it and said on Tuesday that the person in the video was not him.
In a video message Mann posted on X, the Punjab chief minister denied appearing in the viral video and also denied its authenticity.
Read also | Bhagwant Mann, Atishi, other AAP leaders support action against Raghav Chadha
He said, “Recently ‘jathedar’ Sri Akal Takht Sahib issued certain statements regarding me based on a particular video stating that the video is not created or edited by AI.”
Earlier, on January 15 this year, Mann appeared before the Akal Takht Sahib Secretariat in Amritsar after being summoned.
The Sangh Sahib questioned him about the alleged viral video, but Mann claimed the video was fabricated.
The chief minister also suggested that the video be examined by a forensic laboratory.
Read also | Viral video: Korean girl stuns CM Bhagwant Mann with proper Punjabi
In the latest video message, Mann said, “When I was summoned to the Akal Takht Sahib, I clarified that I am not appearing in that video at all and the person in that video is not with me at all.”
“Still, it amazes me how individuals in such lofty religious offices engage in false propaganda at the behest of their political masters and spread malicious misinformation solely to smear me…,” Mann said.
He added, “Religion is being abused… While I hold Sri Akal Takht Sahib supreme, the entire ‘Sangat’ is well aware of the nature of the decisions being made by those holding these politically motivated appointments there.”
“Therefore, I categorically and completely reject the authenticity of the video. The attempts to defame me, or rather these petty tactics, orchestrated by the political masters of the trustees sitting in the Akal Takht Sahib are absolutely wrong,” added Mann.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI)