Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat in Sikhism, has declared Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ‘anti-Guru’ and asked the ‘panth’, or the Sikh community, to have nothing to do with him. Akal Takht found Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann guilty of religious misconduct, and has branded him Khalsa Panth Virodhi.
This step was taken by Akal Takht after a video featuring Bhagwant Mann went viral, which the supreme temporal body concluded hurts the sentiments of the panth (the Sikh community).
The decision to shun CM Mann was announced from the podium of Akal Takht by Jathedar Gargaj as he declaried Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as “Guru Dokhi” and “Khalsa Panth Virodhi”.
All Sikh MLAs in Punjab have also been asked to appear before the Akal Takht for hurting the sentiments and interests of the panth by passing the new sacrilege law.
The video in question is one in which a person resembling the Punjab CM was seen sprinkling alcohol on images of Sikh gurus. Bhagwant Mann had claimed that it is an AI generated video but the Akal Takht was not satisfied with the explanation.
However, Jathedar Giani Gargaj said forensic analysis by two recognised laboratories has confirmed that the objectionable video circulating online, which apparently showed a man resembling Chief Minister Mann committing sacrilege, was authentic.
Giani Gargaj Ji has also called a meeting of Sikh bodies amid objections to provisions of the newly enacted Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, or in simpler terms, the sacrilege law. The meeting will be reportedly held on June 29.
