Punjab CM Mann Faces Intense Opposition Over Alleged Sacrilege Video, Akal Takht Declares Him 'Guru Dokhi'
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government are under intense pressure from opposition parties and the Sikh religious body Akal Takht over a video allegedly showing Mann committing sacrilege by sprinkling alcohol on images of Sikh gurus. The controversy has escalated into a political and religious standoff, with opposition parties demanding a central investigation and Mann's resignation.
On June 24, 2026, a day after Haryana Police arrested two men for allegedly conspiring to forge forensic reports related to the video, opposition parties including the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched coordinated attacks on the AAP government. SAD leaders demanded the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing interstate implications and a money trail. Punjab Congress leaders called for Mann's immediate resignation and an FIR under the new sacrilege law. Former BJP Punjab president Sunil Jakhar framed the issue as a challenge to the authority of Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat.
The Akal Takht had earlier summoned Mann in January 2026 regarding the video, which surfaced in October 2025. On June 15, 2026, the Sikh clergy declared Mann 'Guru Dokhi' (betrayer of the Guru) and 'Khalsa Panth Virodhi' (opponent of the Sikh Khalsa Panth), alleging false statements. The Akal Takht has urged Haryana Police to investigate thoroughly and ensure punishment for those involved.
In his defence, Mann has maintained that the video is fake and created to defame him. He claimed that his government had the video examined by forensic laboratories, but those laboratories are now being targeted by a united opposition of BJP, Akali Dal, and Congress. Mann also questioned the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for ordering posters calling for his boycott, while similar action was not taken against SAD leaders after they admitted responsibility for past sacrilege incidents.
The controversy continues to dominate political discourse in Punjab, with the next state assembly election due in early 2027. The AAP government's handling of the issue is being closely watched, as it navigates a delicate balance between legal procedures and religious sentiments.
