Mann appears before Akal Takht secretariat

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann appeared before the Akal Takht secretariat on Thursday after being summoned by the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs for his alleged remarks about Sikh traditions and tenets. Before his appearance at the Akal Takht secretariat, Mann offered prayers at the Golden Temple. Mann later told reporters that he had submitted his clarifications to Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj.

The response will be examined in detail, after which directions will be given, he said. Mann added that he appeared before the Akal Takht secretariat as a devout Sikh to offer his clarification and will obey any directive it gives. Jathedar Gargaj had on January 5 summoned Mann for allegedly making comments on 'Guru ki Golak' (a gurdwara donation box) and indulging in “objectionable activities” with the pictures of Sikh gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

When asked about the comments made by the jathedar last week on certain videos circulating on social media, Mann said the video was fake or AI-generated, which could be verified in any forensic lab in the country.

Mann is not the first chief minister to be summoned by the Akal Takht secretariat. In May 1986, the Sikh high priests held then-Punjab chief minister and Akali Dal stalwart Surjit Singh Barnala guilty of religious misconduct. As punishment for “hurting the feelings of the Sikh masses”, the five-member Akal Takht fined Barnala Rs 500, ordered him to pay for a Sikh religious ceremony, recite a Sikh hymn 25 times, and dust the shoes of the visitors at any gurdwara for a week to atone for his “sin”. The Akal Takht jathedar also declared Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Badal ‘tankhaiya' for “mistakes” committed by the SAD and its Government from 2007 to 2017. Badal, too, appeared before the Sikh body for 'tankhah' (religious punishment) in 2024.

Ahead of his appearance before the Akal Takht secretariat on Thursday, Mann said a false perception was being created on social media that he was challenging the Akal Takht's authority. Mann told reporters that he would never challenge the Akal Takht's authority, which is supreme.

The jathedar said Mann deliberately expressed an “anti-Sikh mentality” and repeatedly made “objectionable” comments against the principle of 'dasvand', or 'tithe', a practice of donating 10 per cent of earnings to the place of worship.

Citing “objectionable videos” circulating on social media, Gargaj had claimed that Mann's actions towards images of the Sikh Gurus and Bhindranwale were disrespectful.

However, Mann submitted that the videos circulating were fake.

Gargaj said since the chief minister is a 'patit' (a Sikh who cuts his hair) and cannot be presented before the facade of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, he has been summoned to appear in person at the secretariat of the Akal Takht to get his explanation.

Mann has maintained that he would appear before the Akal Takht not as a chief minister, but as a humble and devout Sikh.

“Any command or order from Sri Akal Takht Sahib Ji is acceptable to me with full reverence and will be obeyed. Sri Akal Takht Sahib Ji is above everything for me. Any order received from that sacred Takht will be followed in true letter and spirit,” Mann said recently.