Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann fights back as viral video row sparks Political storm after FIR against Haryana forensic lab
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday launched a strong counterattack against opposition parties amid the escalating controversy over an alleged viral video that purportedly shows him disrespecting Sikh religious figures and symbols.
Opposition seeks CM's resignation; blames him for challenging authority of Akal Takht
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday launched a strong counterattack against opposition parties amid the escalating controversy over an alleged viral video that purportedly shows him disrespecting Sikh religious figures and symbols.
The controversy has taken a new turn after Haryana Police reportedly registered a case against a private forensic laboratory for allegedly issuing a fake forensic report in connection with the viral video. The development comes at a time when the issue has snowballed into a major political and religious controversy in Punjab.
The dispute revolves around conflicting forensic examinations of the viral video. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh had earlier got the video examined by two separate forensic laboratories, which reportedly concluded that the footage was genuine. Based on these findings, the Jathedar issued a decree declaring Bhagwant Mann "anti-Panthic" and an "enemy of the Sikh community."
FIR in Hayana
The controversy has taken a new turn after Haryana Police reportedly registered a case against a private forensic laboratory for allegedly issuing a fake forensic report in connection with the viral video. The development comes at a time when the issue has snowballed into a major political and religious controversy in Punjab.
Mann, however, had rejected those findings and presented reports from two Haryana-based forensic laboratories which claimed that the video was manipulated and that the person seen in the footage was not the Punjab Chief Minister. The credibility of one of these reports has now come under scrutiny following the registration of a criminal case against a private laboratory in Haryana.
The opposition has intensified its attack on the Chief Minister following the latest development. Leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress have demanded Mann's immediate resignation. They have accused him of misleading the Akal Takht and relying on allegedly fabricated forensic reports to defend himself. The state BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon has accused Bhagwant Mann for challenging the authority of Akal Takht, the supreme spiritual seat of Sikhs.
Responding to the criticism, Bhagwant Mann said he was being deliberately targeted by political opponents who were unable to challenge his government's performance. He maintained that the allegations against him were false and part of a broader campaign to tarnish his image. He sad that he bowed before the Akal Takht as Takht is supreme for all Punjabis and Sikhs.
"I left my profession as a comedian to serve the people of Punjab," Mann said, asserting that he had dedicated himself to public service and would continue working for the state's development despite attempts to malign him.
Dedicated to Public service
"I left my profession as a comedian to serve the people of Punjab," Mann said, asserting that he had dedicated himself to public service and would continue working for the state's development despite attempts to malign him.
The Chief Minister also referred to reports of flex boards being installed outside certain gurdwaras calling for his social boycott. He alleged that such actions were politically motivated and aimed at creating divisions among Punjabis.
Before entering politics, Bhagwant Mann was one of Punjab's most popular comedians and television personalities. He later joined politics and rose through the ranks to become Chief Minister after leading the Aam Aadmi Party to a historic victory in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections.
The controversy has now acquired significant political, religious and legal dimensions. While opposition parties continue to demand accountability from the Chief Minister, the Aam Aadmi Party maintains that the viral video is part of a malicious disinformation campaign. With investigations into the forensic reports now underway, the issue is expected to remain at the centre of Punjab's political discourse in the coming days.
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