Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said his government was compelled to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the disappearance of 328 sacred saroops of the Guru Granth Sahib, asserting that the move was driven solely by the need to uncover the truth and not by any intent to interfere in religious affairs.
Addressing a public gathering in Majitha, the Chief Minister placed responsibility for the lapse on the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the statutory body entrusted with the management of historic gurdwaras. He maintained that the investigation was essential to uphold the sanctity of Sikh religious traditions and to ensure accountability for a matter of deep emotional and spiritual significance to the Sikh community.
“Our only purpose is to locate the missing sacred saroops. There is no question of the government interfering in religious institutions,” Mann said, underlining that faith and governance must be handled with sensitivity and responsibility.
The Chief Minister strongly reiterated the supremacy of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal authority of Sikhism. Emphasising his personal respect for Sikh institutions, Mann recalled that he chose to appear before the Akal Takht instead of attending an official function hosted by the President of India. “Sri Akal Takht Sahib stands above all of us,” he said, describing it as a guiding moral authority that transcends political considerations.
In a sharp political attack, Mann accused the Akali leadership of repeatedly weakening the authority of Sikh institutions. He alleged that the appointment and removal of jathedars at the Akal Takht were often carried out arbitrarily during previous regimes, eroding the dignity and independence of these revered offices. He also took a swipe at the Congress, claiming the party had lost its political direction following successive electoral setbacks.
Looking ahead to the 2027 Assembly elections, the Chief Minister announced that senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Talbir Singh Gill would contest from the Majitha constituency. He said the party was committed to ushering in a new political culture rooted in transparency, accountability and public participation.
Mann asserted that the AAP represents a shift in governance where citizens are not mere spectators or petitioners but active partners in decision-making. He said Majitha would now be represented by leadership focused on development and responsible governance, rather than intimidation or inherited political privilege.
