AMRITSAR: In a significant development, the officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, on Monday declared Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann as “Guru Dokhi” (anti-Guru) and “Khalsa Panth Virodhi” (anti-Khalsa Panth) following a meeting of the five Sikh high priests at Akal Takht. The gathering also directed the Sikh Panth to have no connection with Mann.The decision came after Akal Takht received forensic reports from two laboratories on alleged sacrilege videos purportedly showing Mann. During his appearance before Akal Takht on January 15, Mann maintained that the video had been manipulated or generated using artificial intelligence (AI).Giani Gargajj said the Sikh high priests decided that, barring Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, all Sikh ministers of the Punjab government and Sikh members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly representing various political parties who had signed the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, would be summoned to Akal Takht on June 29. They also directed non-Sikh ministers of the Punjab government to submit written clarifications.After holding a meeting with Panthic representatives and Sikh high priests, Giani Gargajj announced the decision from the rostrum of Akal Takht.The officiating Jathedar said Akal Takht had received a complaint against Mann regarding a video in which a person purportedly resembling the Chief Minister was seen sprinkling liquor on a portrait of the Sikh Gurus and allegedly engaging in objectionable acts. The video also allegedly showed liquor being sprinkled on a photograph of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the former head of the Damdami Taksal and a controversial Sikh leader. He said that when Mann appeared before Akal Takht on January 15, he maintained that the video had been tampered with or generated using artificial intelligence (AI), following which Akal Takht asked him to suggest two forensic laboratories to verify its authenticity.On January 27, the Akal Takht Secretariat also wrote to Mann and the Punjab government seeking a response, but no reply was received.The officiating Jathedar said that, in the absence of any response, the Akal Takht Secretariat identified two government-approved forensic laboratories to examine the video. According to the reports received, the video was found to be original and showed no signs of manipulation or AI generation. Following these findings, the matter was discussed at a Panthic gathering and later deliberated upon by the five Sikh high priests, who decided to take action.
Should the Sikh community distance itself from leaders accused of sacrilege?
Stating that the Khalsa Panth could not tolerate such acts, Giani Gargajj said the Sikh high priests were of the view that they could no longer expect Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to take decisions in the interest of the Guru or the Sikh community.“Accordingly, on June 15, the Sikh high priests declared him ‘Guru Dokhi’ and ‘Khalsa Panth Virodhi’ and summoned all Sikh MLAs and members of the Punjab Cabinet who had signed the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, without consultation with the Panth and central Sikh institutions, to appear before Akal Takht on June 29,” he said, adding that Sikh high priests have also directed the ‘Guru Khalsa Panth iss nu muh na lagave’ (not to have any contact with him).
