Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann appeared before the Akal Takht Secretariat in Amritsar after Sikh clergy summoned him to explain remarks seen as inappropriate on Sikh religious traditions and institutions. Mann said he would accept whatever decision the Akal Takht takes.
Acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj said Mann acknowledged that some of his public comments should not have been made. The Jathedar said Mann’s explanation will be placed before the next meeting of the five Sikh high priests.
Mann said he had no intent to question or weaken the Akal Takht’s authority and that he would comply with any directive issued. He was also given copies of the Sikh Rehat Maryada and the Gurdwara Act, which the clergy said would help him better understand Sikh religious norms.
Mann also raised the issue of missing ‘saroops’ of the Guru Granth Sahib, saying the special investigation team formed by the state was meant only to trace missing copies and prevent misuse, and was not a political move.
Why does the Akal Takht matter?
Situated inside the Golden Temple complex, the Akal Takht is the highest temporal seat of the Sikh community. It plays a central role in matters of Panthic discipline, religious conduct and community norms. Its directions carry strong religious and moral weight, and appearances before it are often viewed as acts of accountability and atonement.
Who else has faced the Akal Takht in the past?
Mann joins a long list of prominent political figures who have been summoned or held accountable by the Akal Takht.
Former Punjab chief minister Surjit Singh Barnala was declared “tankhaiya” in 1986 and later underwent religious penance. Parkash Singh Badal was summoned in 1979 following the Sikh-Nirankari clash in Amritsar in 1978. President Zail Singh was summoned after Operation Blue Star in 1984 and later offered an apology. Former Union minister Buta Singh was excommunicated for allegedly violating directives linked to the reconstruction of the Akal Takht and later returned after atonement.
More recently, in December 2024, senior Shiromani Akali Dal leaders, including Sukhbir Singh Badal, were punished after admitting mistakes linked to alleged religious misconduct during the party’s years in power. The punishment included sewa at key Sikh shrines.
A widely cited historical instance involves Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who was summoned by the Akal Takht for marrying outside the faith and was ordered lashes, though he was spared the physical punishment.
With Mann’s explanation now under review, the next step will be whether the Akal Takht issues any directive, and whether the chief minister follows through on his stated willingness to accept it.
