Amritsar: Five days after the Akal Takht edict against chief minister Bhagwant Mann, the executive committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Saturday demanded his resignation and announced a series of measures to mobilise Sikh opinion on the issue.The committee also decided to convene a meeting of the SGPC general house on June 27 at Teja Singh Samundri Hall and organise constituency-level gatherings across Punjab to encourage the Sikh community to adhere to the directives issued by the Akal Takht.The decisions were taken during a special meeting of the SGPC’s executive committee chaired by the SGPC president, Harjinder Singh Dhami.Talking to the mediapersons, Dhami said the actions depicted in the controversial video linked to Mann hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community. He maintained that during the proceedings conducted by the Akal Takht, the CM was given an adequate opportunity to present his version and suggest forensic laboratories for an examination of the video.Dhami alleged that despite being given several opportunities, Mann neither fully cooperated with the process nor responded to communications from the Akal Takht secretariat.Referring to the directive issued by the Sikh clergy, Dhami said the decision was consistent with the long-standing traditions of Akal Takht and held immense significance for the Sikh community. He argued that a person occupying the highest political office in Punjab, a state regarded as the homeland of Sikhs, must be mindful of Sikh religious sentiments and values.“The executive committee is of the unanimous view that in light of the directive issued by the Akal Takht, Bhagwant Mann has no moral right to continue as chief minister,” said Dhami.He informed that the Akal Takht had summoned Sikh members of the Punjab legislative assembly in connection with the matter and said every Sikh legislator should comply with the directive.
