The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) working committee on Friday passed a resolution demanding the immediate resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of challenging the authority of the Akal Takht in public forums.
Resolution passed under Sukhbir Badal's leadership
The committee, which met under the presidentship of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, alleged that the Chief Minister was deliberately creating fissures in the Sikh community. The resolution comes amid ongoing tensions between the SAD and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab.
Allegations of heinous crime
After the meeting, SAD senior functionary Daljit Singh Cheema stated, "There is an overwhelming feeling in the community that Mann not only committed a heinous crime against the Guru Sahiban but was compounding his sins by challenging Sri Akal Takht Sahib, which had pointed out the same with due evidence."
Cheema further elaborated on the committee's discussions, saying that the Chief Minister was "trying to cover up his sins by presenting self-procured reports from laboratories within 24 hours of Akal Takht ruling that the video was not a work of artificial intelligence."
Call for immediate resignation
The SAD leader asserted, "In such a situation, Bhagwant Mann does not deserve to remain in his chair for even one minute more." The resolution underscores the deepening political rift in Punjab, with the SAD accusing Mann of undermining religious institutions for political gain.
The Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of Sikhs, had earlier issued a ruling regarding a controversial video involving Mann, which the SAD claims was authentic and not manipulated by AI. The party maintains that Mann's actions are an affront to Sikh religious sentiments and demand accountability.
