Undeterred by Akal Takht rebuke, Punjab CM Mann intensifies public outreach amid sacrilege video row
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has intensified his public outreach across the state, holding a series of Lok Milni (public meetings) even after the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikh community, declared him 'Guru dokhi' (anti-Guru) and 'Khalsa panth virodhi' (anti-Khalsa panth) over an alleged sacrilege video.
The video, which purportedly shows Mann, has been dismissed by him as fabricated and aimed at defaming him. Despite the controversy, Mann has continued his mass-contact campaign, holding virtually daily meetings in villages and towns across Punjab since mid-June.
At these events, Mann has made several politically significant announcements. On June 24, he addressed a Sarpanch Milni in Bathinda, announcing that the monthly honorarium for sarpanchs would be increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 from August 15. With about 12,500 villages in Punjab, this would raise monthly government expenditure from Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 12.5 crore.
Mann also outlined the rollout of the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) key poll promise—the Mawan Dhiyan Satkar scheme—which provides Rs 1,000 per month to eligible women above 18. The scheme, set to begin on July 1, will see beneficiaries receive three months' instalments together. At a meeting in Jhaloor village, Mann announced a relaxation: women receiving social security pensions would also be eligible.
The chief minister has used these gatherings to approve local development works and even library funds, blending governance with political messaging. At a meeting in Jhaloor, he announced that a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader had joined the AAP.
However, the events have drawn criticism for allegedly excluding protesting farmer union leaders and employee organisations. The Akal Takht's declaration on June 15 came after it reviewed the video, though Mann has maintained his innocence and called for an investigation.
Despite the controversy, Mann appears unfazed, continuing his public engagements and asserting his commitment to governance. The political optics of his outreach suggest a strategy to counter the adverse declaration by connecting directly with voters ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
