Akal Takht declares Bhagwant Mann ‘Khalsa Panth Virodhi’
The Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of Sikhism, has declared Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann a “Guru Dokhi” (one who disrespects the Guru) and “Khalsa Panth Virodhi” (opposed to the Khalsa Panth) over an alleged sacrilege video that it says hurt Sikh religious sentiments.
The decision was announced after a meeting of Sikh high priests in Amritsar. The Akal Takht accused Mann of conduct that it believes was disrespectful to Sikh traditions and urged members of the Sikh community to distance themselves from him. Sikh clergy also stated that forensic examinations found the viral video to be authentic and not generated using artificial intelligence. They further alleged that Mann misled the Akal Takht regarding the video’s authenticity. The religious body has summoned Sikh MLAs and members of the Punjab Cabinet to appear before it later this month to discuss the issue.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Mann, has strongly rejected the declaration, describing it as politically motivated. Party leaders argue that while the video may be genuine, it does not conclusively establish the identity of the individual seen in the footage. AAP has also accused the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Badal family of attempting to use religious institutions for political advantage and maintains that the allegations against the chief minister remain unproven.
The controversy has intensified political tensions in Punjab, with opposition parties demanding accountability from Mann while AAP continues to challenge the accusations. The Akal Takht’s decision is expected to have significant political and social ramifications in the state, particularly as Punjab moves closer to future electoral contests.
