Big Breaking: Sri Akal Takht declares CM Mann Anti-Panthic (Panth-Dokhi)
Kulwinder Singh
Amritsar (Punjab), June 15, 2026: In a significant development that could further intensify the ongoing confrontation between Punjab’s political and religious leadership, the five Sikh high priests from Sri Akal Takht Sahib on Monday declared Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann as ‘’Panth Dokhi” over a controversial video that has been at the centre of a prolonged dispute.
Addressing a press conference from the premises of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj said the decision was taken after deliberations by the Sikh clergy regarding the alleged viral video purportedly linked to the Chief Minister.
The controversy revolves around a video in which Bhagwant Mann is alleged to be seen engaging in objectionable acts involving photographs of the Sikh Gurus and Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The Chief Minister has previously maintained that the video was fabricated and the result of modern technological manipulation, according to the Jathedar.
Giani Gargaj alleged that despite repeated requests made since January, the Punjab Government neither suggested a forensic laboratory nor initiated any independent examination of the video. He further claimed that forensic examinations conducted through agencies engaged by Sri Akal Takht Sahib had found the video to be genuine.
Referring to the findings, the Jathedar alleged that the contents of the video had deeply hurt Sikh sentiments and announced that Sri Akal Takht Sahib had declared the Chief Minister “Guru Dokhi” and “Khalsa Panth Virodhi.”
In a strongly worded appeal issued from the Akal Takht, Giani Gargaj urged the Sikh community to maintain distance from the Chief Minister. Addressing the community as the Guru Khalsa Panth and Guru Nanak Naam Leva Sangat, he advised devotees not to engage in social or religious ties with Bhagwant Mann, reinforcing his message of separation at a religious and communal level.
He also appealed to the Guru Nanak Naam Leva Sangat to take note of the Akal Takht’s position on the issue.
The announcement came during a wider press conference in which the Akal Takht also summoned all Sikh MLAs, irrespective of party affiliation, along with the Punjab Cabinet to appear before Sri Akal Takht Sahib on June 29, the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.