Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann says that Akal Takht is supreme for every Punjabi and Sikh, but he also alleged that some people are trying to misuse this respected institution for their personal gains. He also said that elections should be held for Shiromani Gurdwara Management Committee as soon as possible.
Addressing a public meeting during the 'Lok Milni' (public dialogue) program in Mandi Kalan village of Bathinda district on Tuesday, CM Mann said that he had paid obeisance at Sri Akal Takht Sahib because of its importance in Sikhism, but he expressed deep concern over the efforts of some people to use this institution for political purposes.
Earlier this month, Akal Takht had declared CM Mann a 'Guru traitor' and 'anti-Khalsa Panth' over a video viral on social media. In the video, a man purportedly resembling Mann was seen indulging in “objectionable activities” with pictures of Sikh gurus and slain terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
This order came after Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj claimed that the video has not been tampered with in any way nor is it AI-generated. However, Chief Minister Mann rejected this video. He clarified that this was an attempt to defame him.
This case is related to the summoning of Mann by the highest religious body of Sikhs (Akal Takht) in January this year. He was summoned for commenting on 'Guru Ki Golak' (Gurudwara donation box) and the alleged video clip.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister yesterday reiterated his demand for immediate elections to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and said that elections were last held about 14 years ago. He said that religious institutions should not remain in the hands of people who, according to him, have exploited faith for political gain.
Launching a scathing attack on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Badal family, Mann accused them of misusing religion for political gains and patronizing various mafias involved in drugs, transport and sand mining. He alleges that the previous Akali leadership has caused a lot of harm to Punjab and its people.
Referring to the recently implemented 'Jagat Jot Shri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2026', Mann said that this law provides for strict punishment in cases of sacrilege. He said that if found guilty, the punishment can range from 10 years to life imprisonment along with a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh.
He also said that this law will be able to prevent incidents of sacrilege. The Chief Minister also announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh for development works in Mandi Kalan village. He said that a new library will be built in the village and the 55-year-old Dharamshala will be renovated.
Emphasizing on the welfare measures of his government, Mann said that 'Mawaan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojana' will be started from July 1. Through this scheme, women above 18 years of age will get Rs 1,000 every month, while women from Scheduled Caste families will get Rs 1,500 every month.
