Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann along with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal announced in Amritsar on Sunday that the party MLAs and ministers will appear before Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, on Monday in connection with the summoning over the anti-sacrilege act passed by the government earlier this year.
“We believe in the supremacy of Akal Takht Sahib,” the CM stated, adding that the party MLAs and ministers would present their views in writing at the Takht and will talk to the media when the procedures of the Takht are over.
Mann also said he will be sending a fresh letter to Jathedar saying that the person in the video is not him, but someone wearing a silicone mask like him. Akal Takht has called for a boycott of Mann over an offensive video reportedly showing him.
“I don’t find any confrontation with Akal Takht. My status, not one to be disputed with,” he added.
But Mann has challenged the ‘selective’ behaviour of religious entities in previous cases. “When some people put up boards against me in front of Gurdwara Sahib, they said that boards must have the Takht’s hukamnama on them. Then why were there no boards put up against Sukhbir Badal?” he queried.
“The BJP, the Congress and the Akali have united against me, they are trying to reap political benefit by giving this a religious colour,” Mann remarked.
Mann, who says he enjoys popular support, said he continues to meet people every day and is being celebrated in front of gurdwaras where boards opposing him have been put.
People themselves take the microphone and declare, I am with you. The sangat, the Nanak Naam Leva sangat is the highest authority in our religion. “We will see what decision the sangat takes,” Mann remarked.
His government continued to be focused on governance and development, the chief minister remarked. “We are focusing on positive work, we are working on water, power, roads, drains, flyovers, solar lights, hospitals, schools.
