An uproar has erupted in the political corridors of Punjab after a video allegedly showing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann disrespecting Sikh Gurus surfaced online. However, the AAP leader claims that he is not the person in the clip. Mann denied the allegations and accused political opponents of spreading “false propaganda” to discredit him.
This comes a day after The Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs, declared the ruler of Punjab to be “Guru Dukhi”. (Anti-teacher) f “Khalsa Panth Virudi” (against Khalsa Panth) due to the controversial clip. The Sikh clerics also accused Mann of misleading them that the video was created by artificial intelligence.
The now-viral footage, which appears to be in one of the rooms, allegedly shows a man who allegedly resembles the Prime Minister drinking alcohol and spraying liquor on photos of Sikh Gurus.
Read also | Row As the Akal Takht chief calls Mann “anti-Panth”, the AAP objects
“Not me,” Mann says.
In a video message, Mann categorically denied that he was the man who appeared in the clip.
He said: “I completely reject this video.” Recalling his previous appearance before Akal Takht in January, Mann said he had already made it clear that the person seen in the footage was not him.
He said: “The person who appeared in the video does not match my height and physique.” “But I am amazed at how people holding the highest position in religious bodies indulge in such false propaganda at the behest of their political bosses,” Mann said.
The Sikh clerics also directed the Sikh community to “sever ties” with Mann and summoned all Sikh MLAs in Punjab, regardless of party affiliation, along with members of the Punjab Cabinet, to appear before the Akal Takht on June 29 in connection with the state’s anti-sacrilege law.
“They are indulging in defamation to discredit me. Because I am taking decisions to protect water, suburbs, agriculture and youth, which they cannot tolerate at all,” he added.
The Prime Minister said he respected the Akal Takht as the apex Sikh institution but questioned appointments within religious bodies.
“Punjab lives in my heartbeat and I work day and night for Punjab,” he said.
It’s all about the case
The dispute began after a complaint was filed against Mann earlier this year. The complaint accused him of making statements about “Guru ki Golak” and behaving in an objectionable manner through images of Sikh Gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in a video that went viral.
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Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj said Mann had informed Sikh clerics in January that The video was fake and created using artificial intelligence. Akal Takht later asked Mann to suggest forensic laboratories to examine the video, but did not receive any response from him, Gurjaj said.
After this, Akal Takht had the video examined by two forensic laboratories recognized by the central government. Gargajj claimed that both labs found the video to be real and not produced by artificial intelligence.
“Guru Khalsa Panth cannot tolerate such behavior under any circumstances,” Gargaj said, according to PTI.
“The position of the Prime Minister is respectable. But Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh (Mann) lied before the Akal Takht (about the video),” he claimed.
“Representing the sentiments of the Sikh Sangat, the gathering of five Sahib Singhs today declared Mann as ‘Guru Dukhi’ and ‘Khalsa Panth Virudi’. Guru Khalsa Panth has been directed not to associate with him,” Gargaj said while announcing the decree.
AAP is politically motivated
The ruling AAP has questioned the forensic findings and accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of politicizing Sikh institutions. AAP leader Baltej Singh Pannu said that while the reports may have ruled out AI manipulation, they did not identify the person seen in the video.
“The report does not mention anywhere who actually is the person who appears in the video. Even if we accept the claim that the video was not generated by artificial intelligence, Jathedar should clarify the height of the person who appears in the video,” he said. “Does CM Mann’s height match the height of the person seen in the footage? What is the hotel room where Guru Sahib’s photographs are allegedly displayed? The report has completely failed to establish who is actually seen in the video,” Pannu added.
The opposition demands his resignation
The Akal Takht announcement led to sharp reactions from the opposition in Punjab. State Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Waring demanded Mann’s resignation.
Waring said that after declaring his ‘tankhaya’ and following the directive asking Sangat Sikhs to stay away from him, Mann lost the moral authority to continue as prime minister. “Out of respect for the supreme authority of Akal Takht Sahib and the sentiments of Sikhs, Bhagwant Mann should immediately resign from the post of Prime Minister,” he wrote.
Another controversy
The Akal Takht also criticized the Punjab government’s Jagat Jute Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, alleging that it was passed without proper consultation with key Sikh institutions.
Sikh clerics said their objections to the law were ignored and accused the government of adopting a “stubborn and arrogant” stance, according to PTI. As a result, all Sikh ministers of the Punjab government (except Mann) and Sikh MLAs across party lines were summoned to appear before the Akal Takht on 29 June. Clarifications were also sought from non-Sikh ministers.
