The Akal Takht on Monday declared Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann a “Guru Dokhi (anti-Guru)” and “Panth Virodhi (anti-community)” over an objectionable video purportedly showing him in an act that hurt Sikh sentiments.
The five Sikh high priests pronouncing the religious verdict against Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann from the Akal Takht in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar on Monday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT) Pronouncing the decree from the “faseel (platform)” of the highest Sikh temporal seat, the Sikh clergy led by Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj directed the Sikh Panth to shun ties with Mann. This severe edict followed a crucial meeting with various Sikh bodies, which was convened amid intensifying objections to certain provisions of the newly enacted Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026.
Beyond the ostracising of the chief minister, the Sikh clergy has strictly summoned all Sikh MLAs and cabinet members who signed the Bill of the anti-sacrilege law to present themselves at the Akal Takht on June 29.
The escalation comes after the Akal Takht had earlier given the Punjab government a strict 15-day ultimatum to remove what it termed “objectionable clauses” from the legislation, with those familiar with the developments anticipating an edict against the newly enacted law.
The anti-sacrilege Bill, which proposed amendments to the original 2008 Act, was passed unanimously by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha during a special one-day
Read More