Chandigarh, June 16: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has categorically rejected the basis of a religious decree issued against him by the Akal Takht, stating that the controversial video circulating on social media does not feature him. The Chief Minister issued a formal video statement following a decision by the Sikh clergy that labeled him a “Guru Dokhi” and directed the community to distance themselves from him over allegations of religious misconduct.
The administration maintained that the unfolding controversy is a planned political maneuver designed by opposition parties to disrupt the functioning of the state government. According to the Chief Minister, political opponents have become deeply unsettled by state welfare initiatives aimed at protecting the local farmers, water resources, and youth of Punjab, leading them to deploy religious institutions for factional gains.
The Chief Minister asserted that the physical characteristics of the individual shown in the disputed digital clip do not align with his own. Clarifying his position on the matter, the Chief Minister declared, “The height and physical build of the person seen in the video do not match me at all. A false narrative is being fabricated against me to defame me.”
The state leadership affirmed that the entire issue is being left to the judgment of the public, who understand the underlying dynamics governing recent institutional decisions. The Chief Minister maintained that while he holds the highest temporal seat of the community in utmost reverence, the current office bearers are working under outside influence to satisfy political superiors.
The ongoing friction is also linked to recent legislative amendments introduced by the state government regarding the preservation and sanctity of religious texts. The Chief Minister declared that certain political factions recognize that the new legal frameworks challenge their long-standing influence, which has prompted these sudden tactical responses from administrative bodies.
