{"id":10789,"date":"2026-06-16T08:47:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T08:47:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/?p=10789"},"modified":"2026-06-16T08:59:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T08:59:27","slug":"bhagwant-mann-rejects-akal-takht-allegations-says-viral-video-being-used-to-defame-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/?p=10789","title":{"rendered":"Bhagwant Mann Rejects Akal Takht Allegations, Says Viral Video Being Used to Defame Him"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Saptrishi Soni

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has strongly rejected allegations linked to the controversial viral video that has triggered a major confrontation between his government and the Akal Takht, saying he is being subjected to a deliberate campaign aimed at tarnishing his image.

Breaking his silence after the Akal Takht declared him “Guru Dokhi” (anti-Guru) and “Khalsa Panth Virodhi” (anti-Khalsa Panth), Mann said he completely rejects the video and maintains that the allegations against him are baseless. He also reiterated that he holds Sri Akal Takht Sahib in the highest regard and respects its position as the supreme temporal authority of the Sikh community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n



Speaking on the controversy, the Chief Minister said efforts were being made to malign him politically. “I completely reject the video. A propaganda campaign is being run against me, and attempts are being made to defame me,” Mann said, according to statements released by his office.

The remarks come days after the Akal Takht, following deliberations by the Sikh clergy, declared Mann “anti-Guru” and “anti-Khalsa Panth” over a purported objectionable video that religious authorities said had hurt Sikh sentiments. The Sikh clergy cited forensic reports claiming that the video was authentic and not generated through artificial intelligence or digital manipulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n



However, Mann and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party have consistently disputed the allegations. The party has argued that while forensic reports may comment on the authenticity of the footage, they do not conclusively establish the identity of the individual seen in the video. AAP leaders have further alleged that political opponents are attempting to exploit religious institutions for political purposes.

In his latest response, Mann also referred to the ongoing debate over Punjab’s anti-sacrilege legislation. He said that political opponents had earlier accused his government of failing to enact stronger laws against sacrilege, but were now criticising the government after such legislation was introduced.

“Earlier they asked why a law against sacrilege was not being enacted. Now they are asking why such a law has been brought,” Mann said, defending his government’s position on the issue.

The controversy has emerged at a politically sensitive time, with Punjab’s political landscape already witnessing heightened activity ahead of the next Assembly elections. Political observers believe the dispute could have significant implications given the influence of Sikh religious institutions in the state’s public life. At the same time, supporters of the Chief Minister argue that the matter is being politicised to weaken the government’s standing among voters.

Despite the escalating row, Mann maintained that his government’s priorities remain unchanged.

“I will continue to take decisions in the interest of Punjab and its people,” the Chief Minister said, asserting that his commitment to the state’s development and welfare would not be affected by the controversy.

The dispute now appears set to deepen further, with both religious and political stakeholders taking increasingly firm positions. As the debate continues, the issue has evolved beyond a single video controversy and is rapidly becoming one of the most closely watched political and religious flashpoints in Punjab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Saptrishi Soni Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has strongly rejected allegations linked to the controversial viral video that has triggered a major confrontation between his government and the Akal Takht, saying he is being subjected to a deliberate campaign aimed at tarnishing his image. Breaking his silence after the Akal Takht declared him “Guru […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10791,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[24,22,163],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-10789","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-politics","8":"category-punjab-2","9":"category-saptrishi"},"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687.jpg",694,400,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687-300x173.jpg",300,173,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687.jpg",694,400,false],"large":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687.jpg",694,400,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687.jpg",694,400,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687.jpg",694,400,false],"td_150x0":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687-150x86.jpg",150,86,true],"td_218x150":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687-218x150.jpg",218,150,true],"td_300x0":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687-300x173.jpg",300,173,true],"td_324x400":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687-324x400.jpg",324,400,true],"td_485x360":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687-485x360.jpg",485,360,true],"td_696x0":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687.jpg",694,400,false],"td_1068x0":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687.jpg",694,400,false],"td_1920x0":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687.jpg",694,400,false],"td_265x198":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687-265x198.jpg",265,198,true],"td_741x486":["https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/img_20260616_1412101572251912900795687.jpg",694,400,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Praveen Soni","author_link":"https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/?author=2"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Saptrishi Soni Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has strongly rejected allegations linked to the controversial viral video that has triggered a major confrontation between his government and the Akal Takht, saying he is being subjected to a deliberate campaign aimed at tarnishing his image. 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