BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Thursday criticized the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann over the alleged video of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader “disrespecting” Sikh Gurus, saying the ruling party in the state “fabricated” the forensic report to clear his name.
Chadha, who was a member of The AAP claimed until nearly two months ago that the Sikh community was “angry and hurt”.
“Those who had even the slightest doubt or doubt as to whether this video of desecration was real, AI-generated or fake, have now been cleared of all doubts and skepticism. Bhagwant Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party were forced to fabricate the forensic report to hide the actual video of desecration… The entire Sikh community, the community of Guru Nanak Namleva, is feeling pain, rage and rage today,” Raghav Chadha told news agency ANI.
Chadha also demanded an investigation into the alleged fabrication of the forensic report, while also asking Mann to step down as chief minister and have him prosecuted under Punjab’s new anti-sacrilege law.
“There should also be an investigation into how this fabricated forensic report was obtained. Who are the officers involved? What government money or private money was used to bribe this report? Does this also constitute money laundering? Misuse of government funds. All these things are under investigation now, action should be taken and investigated in this matter… Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann should resign. Under the new sacrilege law, the first FIR and first trial should be against Bhagwant Mann himself,” Chadha said.
AAP leaders have maintained that the alleged video showing a man, claimed by some to be Punjab Chief Minister, pouring alcohol on a photo of Sikh Gurus, is fake and that the man seen in it is not Bhagwant Mann.
Gurugram Police Claims
The dispute recently took a dramatic turn after the Gurugram police Two people were arrested accused of fabricating the forensic report that declared the viral video fake. According to the police, ₹10 lakh”>the accused allegedly received $10 lakh and claimed that some officials in Punjab were involved in preparing the report. The investigation is still ongoing.
The cops also claimed to have obtained CCTV footage of two Punjab Police officials visiting a hotel here to arrange a “fabricated” forensic report, and preparing to summon them for interrogation.
They said that if concrete evidence is found against Punjab Police officials, they could be arrested.
Punjab CM asserts innocence and alleges conspiracy
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed that the video that went viral was fake and accused the government The BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal are joining hands to tarnish his image.
“In the past few days, my fake videos have been posted amid dirty politics. When they find no other way, they try to discredit me using religion,” Mann said in a video message.
Claiming that his appearance and mannerisms did not match those of the person in the video, Mann maintained that forensic examinations concluded that the person in the video was not him.
“BJP attacked forensic lab owners. BJP, Congress and Akali Dal formed a collusion in Punjab. Out of fear of FIR and torture, they made lab owners say that they took money for fake report,” he alleged.
Bhagwant Mann said that people are capable of judging who is telling the truth and accused his opponents of exploiting religion for political gain.
“They are not left to show their faces in Punjab; they have now resorted to religion to defame Bhagwant Man. I will continue to work for electricity, homes, hospitals and jobs,” he added.
The Prime Minister had earlier said that forensic experts examined 1,191 frames of the video and found no match with it.
“It is not me in the video that has gone viral, but an actor who looks like me. A good conspiracy has been hatched to defame me,” he said while directing the Punjab Police to identify and arrest those behind the alleged campaign.
The controversy had earlier prompted the Akal Takht, headed by actor Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, to summon Mann. Supreme Sikh Temporal Body He then directed members of the Sikh community to socially boycott the Prime Minister over the alleged incident.
With Gurugram police investigating allegations of fabricated forensic report, AAP insisting that the video is fake, and opposition parties demanding resignation, arrest and independent investigations, the controversy over Bhagwant Mann’s viral video has evolved into one of the most explosive flashpoints of political tension in Punjab.
