AAP MLAs Await High Command Nod for Akal Takht Appearance
Punjab's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators are waiting for a green signal from the party high command to appear before the Akal Takht on June 29. The summons relate to objections raised against several provisions of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on April 13. The highest temporal seat of the Sikhs had accused the state government of interfering in religious affairs.
Senior Leadership Directs MLAs to Stay Silent on Panthic Issues
AAP MLAs from the Jalandhar area disclosed that they had a video-conference with senior party leadership yesterday, wherein they were directed not to comment on any Panthic issue or the ongoing purported video controversy related to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann in the media. After this directive, most AAP MLAs are even avoiding calls. In Amritsar, AAP legislators have refrained from making public comments. Former minister and MLA Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar declined to speak on the issue.
Internal Dissent Among AAP Lawmakers
An AAP MLA from Amritsar district said he had expressed his opinion to the party leadership that they should not abstain from appearing before the Akal Takht, as the ‘Sangat’ would not like this kind of confrontation with the highest temporal authority of Sikhs. Meanwhile, Congress MLAs from Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Ludhiana have confirmed they would appear before the Akal Takht. Even the lone Shiromani Akali Dal MLA has confirmed his appearance.
Congress and Independent MLAs Confirm Appearance
In the Jalandhar area, Sikh Congress MLAs, including Pargat Singh, Rana Gurjeet Singh, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, and Independent MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh, said they would appear before the Akal Takht. Congress MLA Sukhwinder Singh Sarkaria confirmed that he had received the letter from the Takht and would appear on June 29.
AAP MLA Avoids Comment, Defers to Party Brass
AAP MLA Jasbir Singh from Amritsar (West) avoided commenting on the matter, stating that he would abide by the directions of the top brass. Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan had earlier appeared before the Akal Takht Jathedar in May in a related matter.
