Congress Leaders Unite to Demand CM Mann's Resignation and Arrest
Senior Congress leaders in Punjab have jointly demanded the immediate resignation and arrest of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of insulting and lowering the dignity of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism. The demand follows the arrest of two individuals by Gurugram police for allegedly producing a bogus report that gave a clean chit to the CM regarding a controversial video purportedly featuring him.
PPCC Chief Warring Leads Charge at Press Conference
Addressing a joint press conference, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Amarinder Raja Warring, former Chief Minister Charanjit Channi, former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa, and other senior party leaders including Vijay Inder Singla, Pargat Singh, and Sukhpal Khaira called on Mann to present himself before the Akal Takht to apologize for his alleged misdeeds. Warring stated that the Congress doubts the role of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in investigating the alleged false report.
Historical References and Calls for Accountability
Channi drew a parallel to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who accepted the hukamnama (edict) of the Akal Takht and submitted to its punishment. He accused Mann of damaging Sikh institutions and undermining Sikh values. Randhawa demanded the arrest of police officials involved in procuring the report on the controversial video, as well as accountability for the Rs 10 lakh allegedly paid to the Gurugram lab. Pargat Singh alleged that both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and BJP are complicit in damaging Sikh institutions.
Khaira Calls for Criminal Case Under Sikh Act
Sukhpal Khaira asserted that all police officials involved in creating a false report on the controversial video should be dismissed. He accused the AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, of challenging the authority of the Akal Takht and being anti-Sikh. Khaira demanded a criminal case against Mann under the Jagat Jot Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, which protects the sanctity of the Sikh scripture.
