Chandigarh, June 16 (IANS) A day after the Sikh clergy pronounced an edict against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over his ‘objectionable video’, he clarified on Tuesday that the video neither “matches his height nor build” and called it a “conspiracy and false propaganda” to defame him and AAP. “I revere Sri Akal Takht Sahib as 'supreme', but some at religious posts peddle false propaganda for their political masters,” said CM Mann in a video message. The Akal Takht on Monday directed the Sikh community to ostracise CM Mann over a video that they said hurt Sikh sentiments.

The Chief Minister was declared guilty of “sprinkling alcohol on portraits of Sikh Gurus” as portrayed in a viral video that Gargaj said was “neither AI-generated nor doctored”. However, the Chief Minister in the message strongly rejected the viral video showing him sprinkling alcohol on portraits of Sikh Gurus. The Sikh clergy declared CM Mann “Guru Dokhi” (anti-Guru) and “Khalsa Panth Virodhi” (anti-community). They also summoned all Sikh legislators across the political parties and cabinet ministers before the Akal Takht -- the highest temporal seat of Sikhs -- on June 29 in connection with an anti-sacrilege law recently passed by the legislature.

Akal Takht jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj pronounced the edict from the ‘faseel’ (Akal Takht podium) after the Sikh clergy held a meeting in Amritsar. On January 4, a complaint was filed against CM Mann regarding a video which purportedly showed him making comments on the ‘Guru ki Golak’ (a gurdwara donation box) and disrespecting the pictures of the “Sikh Gurus” and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. CM Mann was summoned and had appeared before the Akal Takht on January 15 for allegedly making derogatory remarks on Sikh tenets. He was the third Chief Minister to be summoned by the Akal Takht after Parkash Singh Badal and Surjit Singh Barnala.

--IANS