Chandigarh, June 16: Political tensions have escalated in Punjab following the Akal Takht’s declaration of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as guilty of religious misconduct. The Congress party has intensified its demands for Mann’s resignation, targeting the Aam Aadmi Party and its national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal.
Senior Congress leader and MP Sukjinder Singh Randhawa took to the social media platform X to directly question Kejriwal, asking if he would demand Mann’s resignation from the chief minister’s position.
In his post, Randhawa expressed that the decision by the Akal Takht has caused deep pain and anger among millions of Sikhs both in India and abroad. He urged Mann to take moral responsibility and resign. If Mann fails to do so, Randhawa insisted that Kejriwal should clarify whether he will demand Mann’s resignation.
Randhawa emphasized that the people of Punjab want to know whether the Aam Aadmi Party stands with the dignity of the Akal Takht and the sentiments of the Sikh community, or if they remain silent to preserve their power. He described the issue as one of faith and respect, asserting that Punjab will never accept anti-Panthic ideologies.
Previously, the Punjab Congress had also claimed on X that the Akal Takht has labeled Mann as a “Guru-Drohi” (betrayer of the Guru) and “anti-Panthic.” They stated that this decision was made following a forensic investigation of a controversial video, in which Mann was accused of pouring alcohol on images of Sikh Gurus. The Akal Takht has urged the Sikh community to sever social and religious ties with Mann.
The Akal Takht’s jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gurdj, announced on Monday that Mann is guilty of religious misconduct. The ruling has prompted a call for all Sikh MLAs, regardless of their political affiliation, and members of the state cabinet to present themselves before the Akal Takht on June 29.
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