The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, on Monday, 16 June declared Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann 'Guru Dokhi' (anti-Guru) and 'Khalsa Panth Virodhi' (anti-community) following a viral video that the Sikh clergy said showed him sprinkling alcohol on portraits of Sikh Gurus. The edict triggered sharp political condemnation from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, who argued the episode exposed the character of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and vowed that voters would deliver a reckoning in the next Punjab Assembly elections.

What the Akal Takht Ruled

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj pronounced the edict from the 'faseel' (Akal Takht podium) following a clergy meeting in Amritsar, declaring the video 'neither AI-generated nor doctored.' The Sikh community was directed to ostracise CM Mann, and all Sikh legislators across political parties and Cabinet Ministers have been summoned before the Akal Takht on 29 June in connection with an anti-sacrilege law recently passed by the Legislature.

The complaint against Mann dates to 4 January, when a formal grievance was filed over a video purportedly showing him making comments about the 'Guru ki Golak' (a gurdwara donation box) and disrespecting images of Sikh Gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Mann had previously appeared before the Akal Takht on 15 January over allegations of making derogatory remarks on Sikh tenets — making him the third Chief Minister to be summoned after Parkash Singh Badal and Surjit Singh Barnala.

BJP Calls for Compliance with the Edict

Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon said Mann had initially claimed the video was AI-generated and should be laboratory-tested, yet continues to deny the findings even after verification. 'For us, Sri Akal Takht Sahib is supreme. There is nothing above it. I would advise Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to abide by the Akal Takht's edict,' Dhillon said.

Punjab BJP Vice-President Fateh Jang Singh Bajwa went further, stating that the Jathedar had declared Mann guilty of sacrilege and disrespect toward Guru Sahib, and that the Akal Takht had confirmed the photographs and evidence were genuine. 'The manner in which Bhagwant Mann has allegedly disrespected the Gurus is unacceptable,' Bajwa said.

Congress Calls It a Grave Mistake

Congress leader Shamshir Singh Dhillon described the matter as 'extremely serious,' saying it was 'shocking that a sitting Chief Minister is facing such allegations' and noting that the actions were reportedly committed under the influence of intoxication. Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput added that 'the kind of language used by Bhagwant Mann regarding the Gurus reflects the character and conduct of the Aam Aadmi Party,' asserting that Punjab voters would deliver a 'strong reply' in the upcoming elections.

Mann Rejects the Video, Calls It a Conspiracy

CM Mann, in a video message, strongly rejected the viral footage, claiming it 'neither matches his height nor build' and calling it a 'conspiracy and false propaganda' aimed at defaming him and the AAP. 'I revere Sri Akal Takht Sahib as supreme, but some at religious posts peddle false propaganda for their political masters,' he said.

Meanwhile, Punjab Minister Aman Arora declined to comment, saying it would be appropriate for the Chief Minister to respond directly and that Mann would 'clarify his position in due course.'

Political Stakes Ahead of Punjab Polls

The controversy arrives at a politically sensitive juncture, with Punjab Assembly elections on the horizon and the AAP government already navigating governance pressures. The Akal Takht's intervention — combining religious excommunication with a legislative summons — elevates the episode beyond a personal controversy into a potential electoral liability. How Mann and the AAP respond in the coming days is likely to shape the party's standing among Sikh voters, who form a decisive constituency in the state.