Breaking: Sri Akal Takht summons CM Mann
Babushahi Bureau
Amritsar (Punjab), January 5, 2026:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been summoned to appear at the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib on January 15, 2026, following concerns raised over his statements, which have been deemed objectionable by the Sikh religious authority in relation to the Sikh Rehat Maryada, the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, and the principle of “Guru Ki Golak” (Dasvandh).
Read the media statement released by Sri Akal Takht:
Addressing the media at the Secretariat today, the Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, said that Chief Minister occupies a high constitutional office in Punjab, and his anti-Sikh statements reflect the arrogance of power within him.
Jathedar Gargajj clarified that since the present Chief Minister is a patit and, as per Sikh tradition, cannot be presented before the façade of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, he has therefore been summoned to appear in person at the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib on January 15, 2026, to submit his explanation.He asserted that Sri Akal Takht Sahib can never tolerate challenges to the Sikh Rehat Maryada or any assault on Sikh sentiments.
Jathedar Gargajj said that the extremely objectionable video of CM Bhagwant Mann that has come to light, which hurts Sikh sentiments, clearly exposes his anti-Sikh mindset.
He said that Sri Akal Takht Sahib will get the video examined through forensic analysis, and if the video is found to be authentic, strict action will be taken against CM Bhagwant Mann in accordance with Panthic traditions.
Meanwhile, Jathedar Gargajj asked that the present Punjab government must clearly explain why justice has not yet been delivered to Sikhs and the victims in the cases of the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at Bargari in 2015—carried out at the behest of Dera Sirsa chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim—and the Maur terrorist bomb attack in 2017, in which seven people, including five children, lost their lives.
He said that in the Bargari sacrilege case, one of the main accused Pradeep Kaler, who was arrested earlier, has clearly stated in court that the sacrilege was carried out on the instructions of Gurmeet Ram Rahim and his follower Honeypreet. He added that the Maur bomb blast case is also linked to Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s dera.
Jathedar Gargajj asked the government to explain why it has not yet arrested Gurmeet Ram Rahim, Honeypreet, and other accused and brought them to Punjab in these cases. He said that in the Bargari case, sacrilege was orchestrated by Gurmeet Ram Rahim as part of a major conspiracy against Sikhs, yet the present Aam Aadmi Party government has not only used the Bargari sacrilege issue purely for political purposes but is also acting as a party to protect an anti-Sikh fake godman like Ram Rahim. He said that Aam Aadmi Party leaders have repeatedly claimed that the Maur blast was carried out to prevent them from coming to power, but questioned why no action was taken in the case even after assuming power.
He further said that the state government readily registers cases against youths for minor issues, such as posting photographs with air rifle, while for a long time it has displayed its anti-Sikh mindset by acting against Sikh youths under laws like the NSA and UAPA.
Jathedar Gargajj stated that even during the process of transferring the Bargari sacrilege-related cases outside Punjab, the state government did not file any appeal in court against the transfer. Instead, senior Supreme Court advocate S. Harwinder Singh Phoolka has been contesting the case in the Supreme Court on behalf of the petitioners opposing the transfer of these cases.
He said that the government also did not challenge the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s decision ordering the transfer of these cases, in which it was remarked that the atmosphere in Punjab was not conducive. This, he said, reflects the government’s hidden anti-Sikh intent and its inclination toward Dera Sirsa’s Ram Rahim.
He added that the government has completely failed to deliver justice to Sikhs in the actual sacrilege cases, and that government leaders are playing politics over sacrilege while toying with Sikh sentiments.
Jathedar Gargajj also said that Punjab Assembly Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan had, three years ago, visited the morcha (protest) by the Sikh sangat over the Bargari sacrilege case and had promised justice after seeking three months’ time, but justice has still not been delivered.
He said that this matter is within the notice of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, and after collecting all the facts, Speaker Sandhwan may also be summoned to seek an explanation.