Oppn parties sharpen attack on Punjab CM Mann over 'Guru Dokhi' case; BJP leader seeks FIR

Chandigarh,

Leaders of opposition parties in Punjab sharpened their attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after he was declared 'Guru Dokhi' (anti-Guru) by a Sikh clergy over an alleged objectionable video, with BJP leader Jagmohan Singh Raju on Wednesday demanding registration of an FIR in the matter. The matter stems from the summoning of Mann by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, in January this year for allegedly making comments on 'Guru ki Golak' (gurdwara donation box) and indulging in "objectionable activities" with the pictures of the Sikh Gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in a purported video clip.

The opposition parties have been pressing for the resignation of Mann after Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj pronounced the edict against the chief minister from the 'faseel' (podium of the Akal Takht) on Monday in Amritsar. The jathedar also directed the Sikh community "not to associate with him" as Mann was accused of lying about a purported objectionable video that hurt Sikh sentiments. The edict came after Gargajj claimed that the video circulating on social media, purportedly showing a man resembling Bhagwant Mann, was found to be "authentic" by two forensic laboratories.

The video was neither tinkered with nor AI-generated, Gargajj said. However, Mann on Tuesday rejected the video, saying the person in it was not him. The chief minister expressed surprise over people occupying the highest positions of religious bodies "indulging in false propaganda at the behest of their political bosses" to defame him. Punjab BJP leader Raju wrote to Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, seeking registration of an FIR, and said the Akal Takht has found the objectionable video to be "authentic". "It is widely reported in the media that the respected Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib has publicly stated that forensic examinations commissioned by the Akal Takht have found a highly blasphemous video featuring Bhagwant Mann, Chief Minister of Punjab, to be authentic," alleged Raju in a letter to the governor.

This has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community, in particular me, and has endangered religious harmony, he said. It is, therefore, requested that an FIR be registered under the relevant provisions of law and the matter be investigated urgently, he demanded. Raju pointed out that as the Punjab Police functions under the authority of Mann in his capacity as home minister, it is further requested that the case be handed over to the CBI for an impartial inquiry. BJP MP and national general secretary Tarun Chugh said Mann has lost the moral right to continue to remain in office after he was declared 'Guru Dokhi' by the Akal Takht, which is the supreme body of Sikhs.

When the Akal Takht found him guilty of hurting Sikh sentiments, how can he lead Punjab, asked Chugh. Lashing out at Mann, Chugh accused the chief minister of misleading people by claiming that the video was fake and AI-generated. Mann should immediately resign, Chugh demanded. Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said the Akal Takht Sahib is the pride of the 'Sikh Panth'. "No one can tarnish its glory, no matter how high a position one may occupy.

Every position is small before the highest institution of the 'Panth' and every Sikh bows his head," Randhawa said in a post on X. "I am a Gursikh before becoming a Member of Parliament from Gurdaspur. For me, it is not my position, but my devotion to the Guru Ghar and my respect for Sri Akal Takht Sahib that is the greatest. Whenever there is an order from the highest body of the Panth, every position and every political identity becomes small in front of it," he said.