- Akal Takht rescheduled Mann’s appearance to 4:30 pm on January 15
- Bhagwant Mann denies requesting any change, insists he will appear at 10 am
- Sikh clergy summoned CM over alleged “anti-Sikh” remarks and conduct
- Row comes amid probe into missing Guru Granth Sahib ‘saroops’
GG News Bureau
Chandigarh, 13th Jan: A fresh flashpoint has emerged between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, over the timing of his appearance before the Sikh clergy for his alleged “anti-Sikh” remarks.
On Tuesday, the Akal Takht Secretariat issued a statement rescheduling Mann’s appearance from 10 am to 4:30 pm on January 15, claiming the change was made following a request from the Chief Minister citing prior engagements.
However, Mann swiftly denied the claim. In a post on X, he said, “Neither I nor my office has made any request to change the timing. As a humble Sikh, I will present myself at Sri Akal Takht Sahib at 10 AM on January 15, as originally planned.”
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj had earlier announced that Mann was being summoned to explain his alleged conduct, stating that the Chief Minister had repeatedly made objectionable remarks in violation of the Sikh Rehat Maryada and questioned the authority of Akal Takht. The Jathedar also accused Mann of making statements on ‘Guru Ki Golak’, which he said deeply hurt Sikh sentiments.
The controversy coincides with the Mann government registering a police case over alleged discrepancies in the printing and distribution of 328 ‘saroops’ of Guru Granth Sahib, in which employees of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have been named.
The development has further intensified political and religious tensions in Punjab ahead of Mann’s scheduled appearance before the Sikh clergy.
