Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday, 28 June reaffirmed that the Akal Takht is the highest temporal authority of the Sikh community, announcing that all state ministers, MLAs, and the Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha who have been summoned will appear before the Takht on Monday to present the government's position with humility. The declaration came from Amritsar, where Mann was accompanied by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

Mann's Pledge to the Akal Takht

Speaking to the media, Mann said, 'Sri Akal Takht Sahib is sacred for every Sikh and is the highest temporal seat of our community. Any command or order issued by Sri Akal Takht Sahib is acceptable to us with complete reverence and will be obeyed.' He added that all summoned ministers, MLAs, and the Speaker would appear before the Takht 'as humble Sikhs' to present their side alongside the government's position.

Mann underscored his personal reverence for the institution, noting that on a previous summons he had skipped a function of the President of India to appear before the Takht. 'Its command is, was and will always remain supreme for me and my family,' he said.

The Fake Video Controversy

The Chief Minister said the government would also submit details to the Jathedar regarding a fake video in which an impersonator was used to defame him. Mann stated that the letter's details are being finalised and that the future course of action would be deliberated after the Monday appearance. The episode has added a digital-misinformation dimension to what is already a politically charged religious dispute.

Mann Accuses Opposition of Mixing Politics With Religion

Mann sharply criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Indian National Congress, and the Shiromani Akali Dal for allegedly seeking political mileage by casting the issue in a religious light. He urged the Maharashtra government not to interfere in Sikh religious affairs and asserted that politics and religion must never be mixed.

Mann also questioned the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)'s directive ordering posters calling for his social boycott to be displayed outside gurdwaras. He drew a pointed contrast with the treatment of former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, who along with associates appeared before the Akal Takht on 2 December, acknowledged mistakes, admitted responsibility for sacrilege incidents and firing orders against the sangat — yet, Mann argued, faced no such boycott posters. Critics argue this comparison conflates separate proceedings and distinct sets of allegations.

Political Context and What Comes Next

This comes amid a broader standoff between the AAP-led Punjab government and Sikh religious bodies over multiple contentious issues, including allegations of sacrilege mishandling and the circulation of the fake video. The Monday appearance before the Akal Takht will be closely watched as a test of the government's willingness to engage with religious authority without precondition.

Mann maintained that his government's focus remains on governance — employment, water, electricity, healthcare, and education — and that the sangat (congregation) is 'fully capable of judging every action.' The outcome of Monday's proceedings is expected to shape the political and religious temperature in Punjab in the weeks ahead.