Whatever order, ready to obey: Punjab CM appears before Akal Takht
Jathedar says Mann vowed not to make remarks on Sikh tenets
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann appeared before the Akal Takht secretariat in Amritsar on Thursday after being summoned over his alleged remarks on Sikh traditions and tenets, and said that he would obey whatever directive was issued.
Officiating Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj said Mann admitted to having made certain statements related to Sikh traditions and religious institutions during public appearances which, he acknowledged, shouldn’t have been made.
Flanked by Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Tek Singh, Giani Gargaj said Mann assured the Sikh clergy of refraining from expressing personal views on Sikh religion and its institutions in the future. He said the Chief Minister’s explanation would be placed for consideration before the next meeting of the five Sikh high priests.
Mann remained at the secretariat for 70 minutes, though the officiating Jathedar arrived 20 minutes late. Prior to his appearance, the Chief Minister offered prayers at the Golden Temple. He later told reporters that he had submitted his clarification to the Jathedar. He said he appeared before the Akal Takht secretariat as a devout Sikh to offer his clarification and would obey whatever directive was issued.
Accepting that an apostate or ‘Patit’ Sikh (someone who does not follow core Sikh principles) could not be pronounced punishment from the ‘fasil’ (façade) of the Akal Takht, Giani Gargaj said religious punishment could be given only in the form of directions to the Sikh sangat.
On the CM’s non-observance of unshorn hair and beard, he said Mann was given two important books related to the Sikh Rehat Maryada and the Gurdwara Act “to help him better imbibe the religious values of the Sikh faith”.
About an objectionable video purportedly showing Mann with the images of Sikh Gurus, both sides agreed to get its authenticity checked from forensic labs.
During his nearly 25-minute-long media briefing in the forecourt of the Golden Temple, Mann said he offered a detailed clarification on his earlier statements. “As a humble Sikh, I will accept every decision taken by the Akal Takht. My appearance has given me immense contentment, inner peace and satisfaction,” he said.
The CM also denied there was any tussle between the Akal Takht and the Punjab Government, calling it a false narrative. “There is no question of challenging or weakening the authority of the Akal Takht, which is supreme for all Sikhs,” he said.
On the constitution of a special investigation team, the CM clarified it was not a political move but confined strictly to the tracing of missing ‘saroops’ of Guru Granth Sahib so that they were not misused. He sought the intervention of the Jathedar to direct the SGPC to assign unique codes to each saroop published by it to facilitate tracing of the missing saroops.
Mann said the Punjab Police and the state government would trace the saroops and inform the Akal Takht and the SGPC about their location, ensuring further action strictly as per Rehat Maryada. “The police have already been instructed not to enter the premises of religious places where the saroops are traced,” he said, adding that the Jathedar informed him that prior to 1998, the printing of Guru Granth Sahib had been carried out at several places.
