Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday, 16 June flatly rejected a fake video being attributed to him, calling it a “malicious” and “politically motivated conspiracy” orchestrated at the behest of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal to defame him and destabilise the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government’s “pro-people” agenda.

What the Fake Video Controversy Is About

The Chief Minister stated that a video circulating online and attributed to him does not belong to him and that he had already clarified this position before Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj when summoned. “The person shown in the video is not me,” Mann said in a video message, adding that “neither the physical build nor the appearance of the person shown in the video matches me.”

The controversy centres on a directive issued by the Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar, apparently prompted by claims that the video was genuine and not AI-generated. Mann firmly denied both assertions.

Mann’s Charge Against Akali Dal and SGPC

Taking to his official X account, CM Mann wrote: “The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President (Harjinder Singh Dhami) has openly become a propagandist for the Akali Dal. The only thing left now is to get a directive issued through the Jathedar Sahib, saying, ‘Vote for Sukhbir Badal, otherwise the Panth is in danger’. Such a decision could be taken at any time.”

Mann described the episode as a “desperate attempt by vested interests” rattled by the state government’s tough anti-beadbi (sacrilege) legislation and other pro-Punjab decisions. He alleged that “certain politically influenced functionaries” were being deployed to run false propaganda against him.

Reaffirming Reverence for Akal Takht

Even as he pushed back against what he termed political misuse of religious institutions, Mann was emphatic about his personal faith. “I have always considered Sri Akal Takht Sahib as the supreme temporal authority and bow before it with utmost humility and devotion. The very thought of challenging its authority is beyond imagination,” he said.

He added that neither he nor any member of his family had ever contemplated challenging the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, and that he holds it “in the highest esteem” irrespective of the political pressures around him.

The Broader Political Context

The episode unfolds against the backdrop of rising tensions between the AAP government in Punjab and the SAD, whose leadership has been under pressure since the party’s electoral rout in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. Critics argue that the Akali Dal is increasingly leaning on religious platforms to regain political relevance — a charge the party has not publicly addressed in response to Mann’s statements.

Notably, the sacrilege issue has long been a flashpoint in Punjab politics, with multiple governments facing public anger over their handling of anti-beadbi cases. Mann’s AAP government has made its anti-beadbi legislation a centrepiece of its political identity.

What Mann Says He Will Continue to Do

The Chief Minister made clear he would not be deterred. “As long as I have been entrusted with the responsibility of serving Punjab, I will continue taking decisions in favour of Punjab, its rights and its people,” he said, invoking his government’s focus on “Paani, Jawani, Kisani and Bani” — water, youth, farming, and language.

Mann also expressed concern that individuals in senior religious positions were, in his view, “allowing themselves to become instruments of political agendas and false propaganda,” calling such attempts “completely unfortunate and unacceptable.”

With the controversy now firmly in the public domain, all eyes will be on whether the Akal Takht or the SGPC responds to Mann’s pointed allegations against their conduct.