E-Paper
‘Derogatory’ remarks on Sikh tenets: Punjab CM to appear before Akal Takht on Jan 15
Due to patit clause, Bhagwant Mann told to report to Akal Takht secretariat at 10am on January 15; first sitting chief minister after Surjit Singh Barnala to be summoned by Sikhs’ highest temporal seat since 1986.
Escalating the standoff between the AAP government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Monday summoned chief minister Bhagwant Mann for January 15. The summons follows allegations that Mann made derogatory remarks regarding Sikh traditions and tenets.
Mann is the second sitting Punjab CM to be summoned by the Sikhs’ highest temporal seat. In 1986, Surjit Singh Barnala was declared tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct) and excommunicated for ordering a police action in the Golden Temple. He eventually sought atonement two years later.
Giani Gargaj said that Mann’s comments on Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct) and the principle of Daswandh (religious tithe) had “deeply hurt the Sikh psyche”. He also cited “objectionable videos” circulating online that allegedly show the CM displaying “arrogance of power”. The Akal Takht will verify the authenticity of these videos before deciding on further action.
The notice clarified that because Mann is a patit (a Sikh who cuts his hair), he cannot appear on the Akal Takht platform itself and must instead report to the secretariat at 10am on January 15.
This development follows the recent registration of an FIR against 16 individuals regarding the 328 missing saroops of Guru Granth Sahib—an issue Mann claims the SGPC is using as a “shield” to protect political associates.
One of the accused, Satinder Singh Kohli, a former SGPC auditor and close aide of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh, was arrested 12 days after an Amritsar court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea. The FIR, filed by Sikh Sadbhawna Dal leader Baldev Singh Wadala, includes charges of criminal breach of trust, forgery, and outraging religious feelings. This follows a 2020 report by the Punjab Human Rights Organisation and a subsequent Akal Takht probe that flagged systemic negligence and record-keeping lapses regarding the missing saroops.
Meanwhile, Giani Gargaj demanded the Punjab government explain the delay in justice in the 2015 Bargari sacrilege and the 2017 Maur bomb blast case. He alleged that despite evidence linking Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim to these incidents, the AAP government has used the cases for political gain while failing to arrest the masterminds.
The acting jathedar accused the state of an anti-Sikh bias, noting that while the government uses laws like the National Security Act (NSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against Sikh youth for minor social media posts, it failed to challenge the transfer of sacrilege cases out of Punjab.
Accompanied by Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Tek Singh Dhanaula, Giani Gargaj warned that Punjab assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan might also be summoned for failing to fulfill a three-year-old promise to deliver justice to the Sikh sangat (community).
Amid these tensions, Punjab cabinet minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond appeared at the Akal Takht secretariat on foot on Monday to offer an explanation regarding the controversial depictions at the Bhai Jiwan Singh Memorial.
Supporting the Takht’s authority, SAD Delhi chief Paramjit Singh Sarna urged CM Mann to appear with “full humility”, stressing that no political office-bearer is above the collective discipline of Sikh rehat maryada.
In a tweet on X, CM Mann confirmed that he will appear before the Akal Takht.
“I bow to the command of Sri Akal Takht Sahib ji. I will appear before the Akal Takht Sahib barefoot as a humble Sikh and not as a chief minister. I also seek forgiveness from the President as I will not be able to attend the January 15 event at Guru Nanak Dev University. For me, the Sri Akal Takht Sahib Ji is supreme and will always remain so,” Mann said.
