In a significant religious and political development ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikh community, has declared Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as “Guru Dokhi” (anti-Guru) and “Khalsa Panth Virodhi” (anti-Khalsa Panth). The Sikh clergy also directed members of the Sikh community to “shun ties” with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader.
The decision was announced by acting Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj following a meeting of the five Sikh high priests in Amritsar. The controversy revolves around a viral video that allegedly showed a person resembling Mann engaging in an act considered offensive to Sikh religious sentiments. Mann had earlier claimed that the video was AI-generated and fabricated.
According to the Akal Takht, forensic examinations conducted by two government-recognized laboratories concluded that the video was neither manipulated nor AI-generated. Sikh clergy accused the Chief Minister of misleading the Akal Takht when he denied the authenticity of the footage. Based on these findings, the religious body declared Mann guilty of disrespecting Sikh values and issued the strong directive against maintaining social and religious ties with him.
The Akal Takht also summoned Punjab Cabinet ministers and Sikh legislators to appear before it on June 29 regarding the controversial Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, commonly known as the anti-sacrilege law. Sikh religious leaders have argued that the legislation was enacted without adequate consultation with Sikh institutions and could create divisions within the community.
The ruling AAP has strongly rejected the decision. Party leaders accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Badal family of politicising Sikh religious institutions for electoral gains. AAP leaders also questioned whether the forensic reports conclusively identified Bhagwant Mann as the person seen in the video.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have seized upon the development. Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon demanded Mann’s resignation, arguing that such a serious declaration from the Akal Takht leaves the Chief Minister without moral authority to continue in office.
The episode has intensified tensions between the Punjab government and Sikh religious leadership and is expected to remain a major political issue in the state in the months ahead.
