Punjab: Why Akal Takht declared CM Bhagwant Mann 'anti-Khalsa Panth' amid viral video row
This comes days after the AAP's Punjab media chief Baltej Pannu accused the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Badal family of using Sikh institutions for political gain
This comes days after the AAP's Punjab media chief Baltej Pannu accused the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Badal family of using Sikh institutions for political gain.
This comes days after the AAP's Punjab media chief Baltej Pannu accused the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Badal family of using Sikh institutions for political gain.
This comes days after the AAP's Punjab media chief Baltej Pannu accused the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Badal family of using Sikh institutions for political gain.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann was accused of religious misconduct on Monday after the Akal Takht Sahib, a group of Sikh high priests, made a major statement on a viral video allegedly involving him.
Speaking at a meeting of Sikh bodies at the Akal Takht Sahib, the religious group's Jathedar (leader), Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, labelled the CM guru-dokhi (Guru betrayer) and khalsa panth-virodhi (Anti-Khalsa Panth).
He declared that the viral video—which apparently shows a man resembling CM Mann committing an unspecified sacrilege—was authentic.
To back his decision, the Jathedar cited reports from two forensic labs, which confirmed the video as "authentic", he said at the gathering, as per an Indian Express report.
Pointing out that the footage had “not been tampered with” and that it was "not AI”, the Jathedar said that the video appeared “entirely natural, just like sitting in a natural environment where shadows fall".
“These are the same labs whose reports brought down a chief minister in Manipur,” he added, in response to a question about the credibility of the reports, noting that the two forensic teams have also agreed to appear in court to prove their findings, if required.
This comes days after the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Punjab media chief Baltej Pannu accused the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Badal family of using Sikh institutions for political gain.
He also rejected all allegations of religious misconduct against the CM.
What is the issue about?
The controversy dates back to early January, when the Akal Takht Sahib summoned CM Mann to appear before the Secretariat on January 15 over statements he made about Guru Ki Golak (donation box) and the viral video.
It had also said that the CM's remarks showed “an anti-Sikh mentality” and had deeply wounded Sikh sentiments.
Mann, however, has so far denied being the person in the viral video, calling it fake and AI-generated.