Amritsar, June 15
The Sikh clergy at Sri Akal Takht Sahib on Monday declared Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann a “Guru Dokhi” (anti-Guru) and “Khalsa Panth virodhi” (opposed to the Khalsa Panth), urging Sikhs to sever ties with him over allegations that he misled the highest temporal seat of Sikhism about a controversial video.
The declaration was made by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj following a meeting of the five Sikh high priests in Amritsar.
The clergy also summoned all Sikh members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, regardless of political affiliation, along with the state cabinet, to appear before the Akal Takht on 29 June over concerns surrounding Punjab’s recently enacted anti-sacrilege law.
The dispute centres on a video submitted to the Akal Takht as part of a complaint filed against Mann in January.
The video allegedly shows a person resembling the chief minister engaging in activities considered objectionable by Sikh religious authorities. It also reportedly includes images of Sikh Gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
Mann had appeared before the Akal Takht Secretariat on 15 January, where he denied involvement and claimed the video had been created using artificial intelligence, according to Giani Gargajj.
The Akal Takht said it had asked the chief minister to suggest two forensic laboratories to examine the footage and sent a formal letter to his office on 27 January. The clergy said no response was received.
Giani Gargajj said the Akal Takht subsequently sent the video to two central government-recognised forensic laboratories, which concluded that the footage was authentic and had not been manipulated or generated using AI.
“The position of a chief minister is respectable, but Bhagwant Mann lied before the Akal Takht,” Giani Gargajj said while announcing the religious edict.
He said the Sikh clergy had concluded that Mann’s actions had hurt Sikh sentiments and directed the community not to maintain ties with him.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party rejected the allegations.
Punjab AAP media in-charge Baltej Singh Pannu questioned the findings cited by the Akal Takht, arguing that the forensic reports did not establish the identity of the person seen in the footage.
“The report has failed to determine who is actually visible in the video,” Pannu said, adding that the Akal Takht should remain above politics.
The development prompted sharp reactions from opposition parties.
The Congress party called on Mann to resign, saying the chief minister should respect the sanctity of the Akal Takht and Sikh sentiments.
The Shiromani Akali Dal described the allegations as deeply shameful, while the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party also demanded his resignation.
The Sikh clergy also discussed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, which was passed unanimously by the Punjab Assembly in April.
The legislation introduces stricter penalties, including life imprisonment, for acts of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib.
However, both the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee have opposed aspects of the law, arguing that it was enacted without consulting Sikh religious institutions.
Giani Gargajj accused the Punjab government of ignoring objections raised by the Akal Takht and failing to amend provisions that Sikh leaders say conflict with religious sentiments.
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