Amritsar: The controversy surrounding chief minister Bhagwant Mann and the officiating jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, has intensified, with Aam Aadmi Party‘s Talbir Singh Gill condemning the Sikh clergy’s handling of the issue.Gill, who shifted allegiance from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to AAP, entered the debate days after his public confrontation with senior Akali Dal member Bikram Singh Majithia.Gill, who heads the AAP’s Majitha assembly constituency unit, said certain political forces were attempting to malign Mann’s image through a “politically motivated” controversy.Referring to the disputed video involving the CM, Gill said the issue was being amplified by political opponents unable to challenge Mann’s growing popularity and governance record. He alleged that efforts were being made to tarnish Mann’s reputation because rivals could not compete with him politically.While Giani Gargaj has maintained that the video in question was genuine, Mann has dismissed it as fabricated.Addressing the officiating jathedar directly, Gill cautioned that religious leaders who become closely associated with political families ultimately face criticism. He remarked that many influential jathedars had come and gone. Gill also reminded Giani Gargaj of the controversy surrounding his own appointment as the officiating jathedar of the Akal Takht.Gill further alleged that the Akal Takht was being used to advance the agenda of a particular political family. He claimed that the Sikh community was aware of the forces influencing such decisions.According to him, repeated interventions against political opponents risk undermining the dignity and credibility of the highest temporal seat of the Sikh community.Defending the Mann govt, Gill said the Sikh community had appreciated the Punjab govt’s initiatives to protect Guru Granth Sahib and strengthen measures against sacrilege.He claimed that these efforts had earned widespread public support and enhanced Bhagwant Mann’s standing among Sikhs across the state.
