Akal Takht declares Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann guilty; Congress and BJP respond

'Shameful': BJP Hits Out At Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann After Viral Video Allegedly Shows Him 'Intoxicated', Sprinkling Droplets On Guru Photos

New Delhi: After the Akal Takht declared Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann 'anti-Guru' and asked the 'panth', or the Sikh community, to have nothing to do with him, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday slammed the AAP leader."Shameful. The Panj Singh Sahib at Sri Akal Takht Sahib has declared Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as Panth Virodhi and Guru Virodhi," BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala wrote on X."Earlier today, Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj stated that a viral video purportedly showing Bhagwant Mann under the influence of alcohol and sprinkling droplets on photographs of the Guru Sahibs was examined by two prominent laboratories, which reportedly concluded that the video was neither fake nor AI-generated," he added.Shameful The Panj Singh Sahib at Sri Akal Takht Sahib has declared Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as Panth Virodhi and Guru Virodhi. Earlier today, Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj stated that a viral video purportedly showing Bhagwant Mann under the influence of… pic.twitter.com/J44p0Mr7Bc— Shehzad Jai Hind (Chowkidar as per INC ecosystem) (@Shehzad_Ind) June 16, 2026 "Reverence towards the Guru Sahibs and Sikh maryada is non-negotiable," he added, saying that "statements made by the Akal Takht today are therefore likely to have far-reaching political and social consequences."Congress reactsCongress MP and state unit chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also called for Mann's immediate resignation."Following the forensic investigation of the alleged video by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Bhagwant Mann has been declared a tankhaiya, and the Sikh sangat has been appealed to stay away from him."ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕਥਿਤ ਵੀਡੀਓ ਦੀ ਫੋਰੈਂਸਿਕ ਜਾਂਚ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਭਗਵੰਤ ਮਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਥ ਵਿਰੋਧੀ ਐਲਾਨਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਸੰਗਤ ਨੂੰ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਦੂਰ ਰਹਿਣ ਦੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਅਜਿਹੇ ਗੰਭੀਰ ਫ਼ੈਸਲੇ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਭਗਵੰਤ ਮਾਨ ਆਪਣਾ ਨੈਤਿਕ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਗੁਆ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ। ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੀ ਸਰਵਉੱਚਤਾ, ਮਰਿਆਦਾ ਅਤੇ ਸਿੱਖ… pic.twitter.com/D4UaccQ6uK— Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) June 15, 2026 "After such a serious decision, Bhagwant Mann has lost his moral right. Respecting the supreme authority, maryada, and Sikh sentiments of Akal Takht Sahib, Bhagwant Mann should immediately resign from the post of Chief Minister." For the unversed, the Akal Takht is the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs.Congress Demands Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s Resignation After Akal Takht Declares Him Guilty Of Religious MisconductMann had been summoned by the Akal Takht and appeared before it on January 15 over his alleged objectionable remarks about Sikh devotees. The Takht had also questioned the AAP leader about a video in which a person resembling him was seen sprinkling alcohol on images of Sikh Gurus, according to an NDTV report.Mann had denied the accusation and said the video was AI-generated. On Monday, it came to the fore that forensic tests had been done and the video was found to be genuine. The AAP then countered that the tests had not revealed whether the person in the video was indeed the CM.

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Congress Demands Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s Resignation After Akal Takht Declares Him Guilty Of Religious Misconduct

The Congress on Monday demanded the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after the Akal Takht declared him guilty of religious misconduct and labelled him a “Guru-traitor” and “anti-Panth” over a purported video that allegedly hurt Sikh sentiments.श्री अकाल तख्त साहिब ने भगवंत मान को 'गुरु-द्रोही' और 'पंथ विरोधी' घोषित किया है। ये गंभीर फैसला कथित वीडियो की फॉरेंसिक जांच के बाद लिया गया है, जिसके बाद श्री अकाल तख्त साहिब ने सिख संगत से कहा है कि वे भगवंत मान से कोई संबंध न रखें। इस फैसले के बाद भगवंत मान ने मुख्यमंत्री… pic.twitter.com/JGaJQ4wwDn— Congress (@INCIndia) June 15, 2026 In its reaction, the Congress said the decision of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of Sikhs, was based on a forensic examination of the disputed video and argued that Mann had lost the moral authority to continue as Chief Minister. The party urged him to step down immediately out of respect for the institution and Sikh sentiments.Earlier in the day, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj announced that five Sikh high priests had unanimously found Mann guilty, stating that forensic analysis by two recognised laboratories concluded the viral video was authentic and had not been altered or generated using artificial intelligence. The alleged footage purportedly shows Mann sprinkling alcohol on portraits of Sikh Gurus.The Akal Takht also summoned all Sikh legislators in Punjab, irrespective of party affiliation, along with the state Cabinet, to appear on June 29 over concerns that the recently enacted Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, had hurt the sentiments and interests of the Sikh community.Mann had previously appeared before the Akal Takht in January over separate allegations related to remarks on Sikh tenets. There was no immediate response from the Chief Minister to the latest declaration or the Congress’ demand for his resignation.

15 hours ago

Akal Takht Declares Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Guilty Of Religious Misconduct, Summons Sikh MLAs

Amritsar: Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Monday declared Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann guilty of religious misconduct after a video purportedly showed him committing an act that hurt Sikh sentiments. All Sikh lawmakers of the state were also summoned to appear before the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, for hurting the sentiments and interests of the 'panth' (community) by passing the new sacrilege law.The Chief Minister was declared guilty of "sprinkling alcohol on portraits of Sikh Gurus" as portrayed in a viral video that Gargaj said was "neither AI-generated nor doctored".The five Sikh high priests unanimously took the decision that was pronounced from the podium of Akal Takht by Jathedar Gargaj by declaring Chief Minister Mann as "Guru Dokhi" (one who has betrayed or shown disloyalty to the Guru) and "Khalsa Panth Virodhi" (opposed to the Khalsa Panth). The Sikh ‘panth’ was also directed to shun ties with Mann.From Land Donors To First Flyers: Farmers Board Historic Inaugural Flight From Noida International Airport To Lucknow The Akal Takht summoned all Sikh legislators, belonging to all political parties, and the Cabinet to appear before it on June 29 for the hurt sentiments and interests of the ‘panth’ (community) by passing the new sacrilege law.Gargaj said all the Sikh legislators were summoned on June 29, which is observed as the death anniversary of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh.Ahead of the pronouncement of the edict, Jathedar Giani Gargaj, who called a meeting of Sikh bodies amid objections to certain provisions of the newly enacted Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, said forensic analysis by two recognised laboratories has confirmed that an objectionable video circulating online, which apparently showed a man resembling Chief Minister Mann committing sacrilege, was authentic."Ultimately, the conclusion from both labs is that this video is authentic," he said, describing the laboratories as government-recognised and experienced forensic units. He said reports explicitly stated the footage had "not been tampered with" and was "not AI", adding the video appeared "entirely natural, just like sitting in a natural environment where shadows fall".'..Paper Leak Inka Bahana Hai': Abhijeet Dipke's Attacker REVEALS Why He Slapped Him; Video The Jathedar Gargaj had earlier warned the state government over "objectionable" clauses of the state anti-sacrilege law.Delivering a customary address to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Indian army's 'Operation Blue Star' from the Akal Takht podium on June 6, Jathedar Gargaj, without mentioning the specific "objectionable" clauses of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Satkaar (Amendment) Act, 2026, said the "black law" was again brought by the state government and should be revoked immediately.Earlier, Chief Minister Mann was summoned and appeared before the Akal Takht on January 15 for allegedly making derogatory remarks on Sikh tenets. He was the third Chief Minister to be summoned by the Akal Takht after Parkash Singh Badal and Surjit Singh Barnala.Badal was summoned in 1979 by then Jathedar Sadhu Singh Bhaura over his role in the Sikh-Nirankari clash that claimed 13 lives in Amritsar, while Barnala was declared tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct) in 1986 and excommunicated for ordering police action inside the Golden Temple. Later, he sought atonement in 1988.(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

16 hours ago