Opposition Presents Evidence Against CM Mann & Demands Resignation

Panjab's ruling Aam Aadmi (AAP) party has responded to Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT) Jathedar (leader) Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj’s claim that two laboratories had certified the controversial videos allegedly of Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann desecrating the images of Sikh Gurus (Sovereigns) were not tampered or AI generated. On 18 Jun, Panjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, 'The forensic analysis examined a total of 1,191 frames from the video. Every aspect, including facial features, height, body structure, posture, movement patterns, side profile, and back profile, was thoroughly analyzed. The reports clearly conclude that the person shown in the video does not match CM Mann.' CM Mann then made a statement, ‘It is not me in the video but an actor who looks like me.’ On 20 Jun, AT released a video of the meeting between Giani Gargajj and CM Mann from January in which CM Mann is promising all support to analyze the video. On 22 Jun, Member of Legislative Assembly from Indian National Congress Sukhpal Singh Khaira alleged that the test reports presented by AAP were incomplete, were not on the laboratory letterhead, and were not signed by the laboratory authority. He also said, AAP had paid the laboratories to get a favorable report and the Gurugram, Haryana police was investigating the matter. Gurugram police rejected Khaira’s claims that a city-based forensic laboratory operator had been raided, arrested, or detained for allegedly fabricating a report. On 23 Jun, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia said Sirsa, Haryana resident Jaspreet Singh Dhaliwal was the owner of the unregistered Chopra Dhaliwal Forensic Lab in Faridabad, Haryana. Deputy Inspector General and Commissioner Police Ludhiana and Superintendent of Police Jashandeep Singh paid Jaspreet USD 11K at Hotel Crowne Plaza, Gurugram to get a favorable report. On Jaspreet’s complaint, Gurugram police has now filed a First Information Report against two digital creators Ankit and Arun and arrested them. The apex Sikh body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has passed a resolution demanding the resignation of CM Mann stating that he has no moral right to continue in the office. SAD has also demanded CM Mann’s resignation and has threatened to launch Dharam Yudh Morcha (a major protest) if he does not comply (earlier coverage).

US & Iran Talks at Bürgenstock Resort Switzerland Photo by The Hindu

Israel & Trump Almost Sabotage US-Iran Talks; 5 Panjabis Return from Lebanon

The US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian electronically signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 17 Jun to end the war. The MoU said the US will stop its blockade on Strait of Hormuz, Iran will open the Strait, the US promised a USD 300B plan for Iran's 'reconstruction', and that it will terminate all sanctions on Iran. President Trump signed the deal at Versailles, France, during the G-7 summit. Iran opened the Strait conditional to Israel stopping bombardment on Lebanon. However on 20 Jun, Israel bombed and killed 26 Lebanese and Iran closed the Strait again. On 21 Jun, to start the 60-day period to settle broader issues that have dogged US-Iran relations for decades, the Iranian Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi went to Bürgenstock Resort, a secluded mountain retreat overlooking Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. They were to meet US Vice President JD Vance, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, when President Trump made profanity-ridden social media posts in which he threatened to bomb and ‘take over’ Iran. He threatened to assassinate Iran's leaders. Iran's delegation filed a formal complaint with the Pakistani and Qatari mediators, and walked out of the talks. However, on 22 Jun, talks progressed and the US authorized transactions related to the production, sale, transportation, and offloading of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and petrochemicals until 21 Aug, marking the first major sanctions relief for Tehran since President Trump reimposed sweeping curbs in 2018. Meanwhile, after the US-Iran preliminary peace understanding, nitrogen fertilizer prices have slumped from record highs. Urea prices have fallen about 50% from their April peak, dropping to prewar levels. Sulfur prices, a core raw material for phosphate fertilizers and sulfuric acid, have experienced a precipitous drop, completely reversing the previous three-month-long unilateral upward trend. However, if the US and Iran do not go to war again, the prices will take months to stabilize and will affect paddy sowing in Panjab. Concurrently, five men from Panjab who were stranded in Lebanon for several years, have safely returned home after their plight was raised by head granthi (reciter) Pritpal Singh of the Adonis Gurdwara, Beirut and the issue was taken up by Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Taranjit Singh Sandhu with the Indian Embassy at Beirut (earlier coverage).

BJP National President with BJP leaders at Darbar Sahib Photo by Hindustan Times

BJP National President: ‘Will Transform Panjab to Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Dream’

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin started his three-day maiden visit to Panjab on 20 Jun by paying obeisance at Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar. Addressing journalists after offering prayers, Nabin said, 'Just as Maharaja Ranjit Singh (MRS) gave a unique governance identity to Panjab, we all want to create the Panjab of his dreams.' Nabin also said, ‘I come from Patna Sahib, the birthplace of the tenth Sikh Sovereign Guru Gobind Singh. The place is my karmabhoomi (field of action).’ Panjab's election pitch has been straying over the years from developmental issues to religious and historic symbolism. In 2015, Captain Amarinder Singh, then in the Indian National Congress (INC), swore on the Gutka Sahib—selected compositions from Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh scripture and charter)—that he would eradicate drugs from the state. INC won Panjab in 2017, but did little to curb the drug menace. After a decade, the menace has grown. Captain Amarinder’s oath on the Gutka Sahib was tokenism. Now BJP is invoking Gurus and MRS whose independent reign 1801–1839 is known for being secular, allowing everyone to practice their religion without fear or state interference. This is not how the right-wing BJP has governed India in the last decade where it targets Muslims, tribals, and women. MRS’s rule is also considered Sikh Empire or Khalsa Raj (Rule) and remains an inspiration for the Sikh demand for a separate country Khalistan. Either BJP does not know Panjab well enough and is invoking historical and religious figures as tokenism, or if it does, and is deliberately fanning flames for votes from Sikhs who constitute 58% of the state’s population, according to the 2011 census. Nabin also said, 'Just as the BJP achieved victory in Bengal, we will fight hard in Panjab and make the lotus (BJP symbol) bloom here too.' This is a bad comparison because though Panjab and Bengal were in the forefront of India’s struggle for freedom from the British, both were Partitioned in 1947, they are very different states in composition and temperament. The statement betrays BJP’s mindset that it can stream roll the diversity of India into its centralized vision of the country (earlier coverage).

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke at Jantar Mantar Photo by The Hindu

NEET-UG Re-Examination Held; CJP & Leader of Opposition Hold Protests

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) re-examination was conducted nationwide on 21 Jun amid tight scrutiny, following the paper leak controversy in May that led to nationwide protests and multiple suicides by students. In Chandigarh, a total of 2,789 candidates appeared for the examination from Panjab and other states at seven designated centers. The founder of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Abhijeet Dipke, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking assistance of USD 106K for the families of each student who died by suicide. The letter by Dipke states a growing mental health crisis among students facing uncertainty over examinations and draws attention to the economic burden borne by many families who take loans for their students' education. Dipke claimed that a total of 11 students had died by suicide since the paper leak. CJP began a fresh sit-in protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on 21 Jun, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over lack of accountability over the paper-leak controversy. Dipke has requested farmer groups to join the protest. Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and Muslim organizations have begun langar seva (food service) at Jantar Mantar for the protestors. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Parliament, Rahul Gandhi, held a rally in Kota, Rajasthan—the student coaching hub of India. The rally titled Chhatron Ki Goonj (Students’ echo) saw a massive turnout by students. A student protestor said re-examination is ‘not an efficient method and neither a permanent solution’. She added, ‘The issues, including mental stress, that the aspirants faced this year should not be repeated next year when I will appear for the exam.’ During the rally, Gandhi drew the crowd's attention to the business model of the education sector today, and how privatization has increased the financial burden on families. He said: ‘Money extracted by the system from NEET students and their families (USD 2.2M students per year) equals USD 13.96B; India’s entire education budget is USD 14.84B. Loans forfeited by the government of India to its favorite businessmen is 168.97B.’ Gandhi claimed that students preparing for top examinations in India spend nearly USD 37.07B annually, which is equivalent to the combined budgets allocated by the union government to the five ministries—Women and Child Development, Labour, Education, Health, and Science (earlier coverage).

Nihang at Gurdwara Rooftop at Nagarsu, Uttrakhand Photo by Deccan Herald

Minor Dispute Flares Up Into Standoff Between 'Nihangs' & Uttarakhand Police

A minor dispute over parking vehicles turned into a clash between a group of Nihangs (traditional warriors) returning from Gurudwara Sri Hemkund Sahib and locals in Karanprayag, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand on 16 Jan. The verbal dispute turned armed when locals, armed with sticks and stones, pushed a Nihang to the ground, and other Nihangs pulled out their swords. In the fight, four locals and one Nihang were injured. On 17 Jun, the Uttarakhand police arrested the four Nihangs: Manpreet Singh and Satwinder Singh, aged 21 years; Jasanpreet Singh and Ajay Singh, aged 23 years. Karanprayag police said the arrests were made on the complaint by a Karanprayag resident, Gajpal Singh, one of the injured. Initially, the Uttarakhand police did not take any actions against the locals. A Shiromani Akali Dal (Waris Panjab De) delegation, including Member of Parliament Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, Panjab Member of Legislative Assembly Manpreet Singh Ayali, and others met Uttarakhand Director General of Police Deepak Seth, who agreed to file a cross complaint against locals, and set up a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter. Meanwhile, 15 kms from Karanprayag, at Nagarasu, Rudraprayag district, after an altercation with the local Gurdwara Langar Damdama Sahib management on 21 Jun, some Nihangs climbed onto the roof of the Gurdwara. Rudraprayag administration rapidly deployed a large number of Provincial Armed Constabulary and Indo-Tibetan Border Police. According to Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra, the matter was resolved after the last of the agitators came down from the Gurdwara’s roof on 23 Jun evening. Gurdwara Sri Hemkund Sahib Management Trust, Govindghat, requested devotees to refrain from actions that hurt religious sentiments, avoid disputes, and cooperate in maintaining law and order and social harmony during the journey. The core issue is that while the Indian Constitution safeguards the Sikh right to carry their article of faith—the kirpan (traditional sword)—its length is not specified either in the Constitution or in Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, earlier Code of Criminal Procedure. Also, there is a great need for respective state governments to formalize protocols of behavior and engagement of pilgrims and tourists with locals. Interestingly, most social media posts covering both the incidents and views of Sikhs in India and abroad have been scrubbed clean from the internet (earlier coverage).

Methanol, Representative Image by The Tribune

Going Digital Brings Services to Doorsteps; Panjab Records 15% Dip in MMR

Panjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema urged the union government on 17 Jun to take decisive steps to regulate and monitor methyl alcohol (methanol), stressing the need for a dedicated union law to prevent hooch tragedies, and safeguard human lives. Cheema said nearly 90% of methanol consumed in India is imported, which enters the country through ports and customs points, and passes through several states before reaching industrial end-users. Furthermore, the ease of online availability of methanol hampers the ability of state enforcement agencies to monitor, intercept, or prevent misuse of the toxic substance demanding the need for a central law. Additionally, Panjab’s Good Governance and Information Technology Minister Aman Arora said that Panjab government’s initiative ‘Sarkar, Tuhade Dwaar’ (Government at your doorstep) is reshaping Panjab’s governance landscape. Arora said the technology-enabled system has delivered over 310K individual services to citizens who can access 437 government services by simply calling the 1076 helpline or booking appointments through WhatsApp, the online portal or Sewa Kendras (service centers). Once an appointment is booked, trained doorstep delivery operators visit citizens at homes to collect documents and assist in completing applications and online submissions, eliminating the need for repeated visits to government offices. Additionally, Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) declined in Panjab from 111 deaths in 2024–25 to 94 in 2025–26. However, despite the progress, Panjab continues to remain above the national MMR of 88 deaths per 100K live births. Panjab also recorded a notable decline in maternal deaths at 299 during 2025–26, compared to 357 in 2024–25. Meanwhile, teachers in Ludhiana district already performing duties for Population Census 2027 and Drug and Socio-Economic Census during the summer vacation, have now been ordered to work on the welfare scheme Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana (for adult women)—under which USD 10.58 will be transferred each month to bank accounts of women across state starting July. The order has triggered widespread anger and backlash among teachers against the Aam Aadmi Party government for imposing more non-academic duties on them. Concurrently, Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu announced that the government has revived the long-pending Qadian–Beas railway line project, nearly 100 years after it was first proposed. The 39.68-km-long rail line will connect Qadian, Gurdaspur district with Beas, Amritsar district and will be developed at an estimated cost of USD 1.48B (earlier coverage).

National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar Photo by The Tribune

32K Women Abandoned by NRI Husbands; Sikh Caretaker Couple Shot in Pakistan

National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar flagged on 16 Jun the growing challenge of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) marriage fraud in Panjab. She said that data indicates that nearly 32K women have reportedly been abandoned by NRI husbands in Panjab (without specifying the period). Chairing a Mahila Jan Sunwai (Women’s Open Hearing) at Rupnagar, Rahatkar expressed concern over instances where First Information Reports had not been registered and directed the Panjab police officials to ensure timely redressal of women’s complaints, and submit action-taken reports within stipulated deadlines. Nearly 40 cases from Rupnagar and Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar districts, along with several walk-in complaints, were heard during the Jan Sunwais in the presence of Deputy Commissioners, Senior Superintendents of Police, investigating officers, and other officials from the two districts. Rahatkar added that the police could strengthen its handling of women complainants. Meanwhile, the Panjab police has secured the deportation from Malaysia of two wanted operatives linked to the banned Khalistan Zindabad Force terror module, accused of targeting critical railway infrastructure, including the Dedicated Freight Corridor lines in the state. The two accused—Gurwinder Singh of Ambala, Haryana and Manjeet Singh of Patiala—were allegedly behind the IED blast on the Sirhind railway track on 23 Jan and an attempted explosion on the same track near Shambhu on 27 Apr. Concurrently, a Sikh caretaker couple was shot dead in a Gurdwara in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on 17 Jun. The incident occurred in Babu Mohallah locality of Mardan, about 60 km northwest of Peshawar. Police have arrested Sher Shah, a resident of Amazugari area in Mardan. The motive of killing, however, remains unclear. The murders have once again drawn attention to the security of Pakistan's small Sikh community—estimated at 8K—particularly in KP, where Sikhs have historically faced threats from militants. Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne) Jathedar (leader) Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, condemned the murders and called on Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and KP Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi to ensure the killer faces the strictest punishment. Additionally, a 19-year-old student from Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar has been charged with murdering his parents and grandmother in a shocking triple homicide in the US state of Texas. The accused, identified as Gaurav Chopra, allegedly opened fire on his family members at their home in the Tuscany Village (earlier coverage).

Gobind Sagar Reservoir Photo by The Tribune

Largest Ever Desilting Underway; Pakistan Threatens War over Water Security

In the aftermath of the devastating floods of 2025, Panjab has scaled up its river desilting and flood protection program. According to official data, Panjab desilted 400M CFT of sediment from 2024 until June 2026 in the largest ever such exercise conducted, and compared to virtually no recorded desilting activity before 2024. Until 2022 desilting operations were carried out under the Department of Mines and Geology without a clear distinction between mining and desilting, and without scientific studies or dedicated guidelines. Though the desilting operations in major rivers are being monitored by the judiciary and commercial desilting is banned, Panjab has explored multiple approaches to clear the legal hurdles and carry out desilting before the monsoon—including asking the National Highways Authority of India to utilize excavated mud for infrastructure projects. However, after the 1988 floods, the Water Resources Department had identified 182 flood-prone points for river desilting but work has begun at only 52 sites. Officials attribute the slow pace of work to legal battles in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the National Green Tribunal, changes in the state’s desilting policy, and resistance from residents in some villages. Nine locations have been identified as the most vulnerable ahead of the 2026 monsoon. Furthermore, the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s (BBMB) ambitious plan to desilt the Gobind Sagar reservoir of Bhakra Dam has hit fresh trouble after Himachal Pradesh (HP) objected to tenders issued for the project. HP contends that the BBMB failed to obtain the mandatory No Objection Certificate before initiating the process. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has raised concern over Indian projects on the Indus river system, saying such steps could affect natural river flows and create risks for regional stability, and water security. Dar has urged the UN Security Council to take notice of India's alleged violations of the Indus Waters Treaty. Additionally, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Pakistan could consider military action against India if it concluded that its water security was under serious threat. He said, ‘The moment we feel that our national security—and water is part of our national security—is being threatened, we will go to war against India. Definitely’ (earlier coverage).

A Digital News Boom in Panjab Ahead of Elections

As Panjab gears up for the 2027 Assembly elections, a digital media boom is reshaping the state’s news landscape. A growing number of journalists, former newsroom professionals, and political commentators are launching independent YouTube (YT) channels, and news websites. Driven by a desire for editorial autonomy, wider reach, and new revenue streams, this rapid expansion is transforming how political information is produced and consumed. The move is also raising critical questions about credibility, influence, and the increasingly blurred boundaries between journalism, political messaging, and social media content. The Panjab government’s Department of Public Relations has empaneled more than 100 websites and YT channels, making them eligible to receive government advertisements. Founder of one such interviews-based YT channel Adbi Baithak, Harpreet Singh Kahlon says, 'With the spread of social media, the distinction between journalist, influencer, and content creator has become blurred, while the boundaries between government public relations and news media are also disappearing.' This media shift coincides with aggressive state efforts to leverage social media. In October 2023, Panjab launched an Influencer Empowerment Policy through which creators are paid to promote tourism, culture, and governance on YT and Instagram, with remuneration reaching up to USD 3.1K for standard tiers and USD 8.4K for Category A influencers with more than one million followers. The digital boom is altering the economics of the industry by drawing talent away from traditional media organizations and it affects the way news breaks in Panjab, first on YT channels or niche websites before filtering into mainstream media. Founder of channel Bold Punjab, Vikram Singh says, 'Governments are controlling the media, which becomes frustrating for ethical journalists. An independent channel not only provides greater independence but also better earnings and allows one to be one’s own boss.' However, independent journalists also have to negotiate government control. For example, a journalist from Bathinda, Rattandeep Singh Dhaliwal—who had earlier won against the government's copyright strikes and removal of his social media pages—recently alleged 32 current Members of Legislative Assembly may not receive party tickets for the upcoming state assembly elections. This led to ruling Aam Aadmi Party legislators filing multiple cases against him in various districts. Police from those districts kept raiding his home forcing him to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court for relief (earlier coverage).

‍

Kaurnama 3 Photo by Sikh Siyasat

10.

Remembering Women Martyrs of ‘Operation Blue Star’

Every year, as Sikhs worldwide remember ‘Operation Blue Star’ (OBS) of June 1984 as Ghallughara (genocide and resistance), much is said about the events that unfolded at Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) and the armed men who participated in it. Yet among the tragedy are poignant stories of innocent women and children who lost their lives in it. ‘Kaurnama 3: Sikh Women Martyrs of June 1984 Ghallughara’ by Baljinder Singh Kotbhara, focuses on the lives and sacrifices of Sikh women who were martyred at Darbar Sahib during the June 1984 Army attack. Released in May 2026, the book is the result of extensive research carried out by Baljinder, who gathered information from surviving family members, relatives, and acquaintances. Perhaps the most haunting testimony is that of two-year-old Surinder Kaur of Batuha village, Sangrur district. According to her father, Preetam Singh, the family had arrived at Darbar Sahib on 3 Jun 1984. When OBS began, they found themselves trapped inside the complex. For days, they struggled to survive amid fear, and severe shortages of food and water. Preetam Singh recalled that the family was forced to drink water flowing through drains to stay alive and as conditions worsened, they even consumed water mixed with blood because there was no other source available. Surinder Kaur lost her life amid the shelling and firing. Her story remains a poignant reminder of the human cost of the events of June 1984. Baljinder says, ‘It took me nearly five to six years to gather information about these women. Even today, I believe there is much more that remains undocumented. The women who played significant roles in the events of 1984 and other important chapters of Sikh history deserve to be remembered and studied.’ The memory of these women also lives on through the photographs displayed in the Shaheedi (Martyrdom) Gallery located in the basement of the OBS Memorial within the Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar. Harsharan Kaur, a journalist adds, ‘As an Amritdhari (initiated) Sikh woman, I believe the lives of the women who came before us offer invaluable lessons in faith, courage, and commitment to the Panth.’ Baljinder adds, ‘Preserving their stories is a responsibility that belongs to all of us. Institutions, particularly the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (Sikh apex body), should make dedicated efforts to document, preserve, and promote these accounts so that future generations can learn about the sacrifices, contributions, and historical significance of these women’ (earlier coverage).

Notes

Updates

IN: Villagers oppose cement plant in Bathinda, asphalt unit in Muktsar.
IN: Chandigarh’s ‘broom warrior’ Inderjit Singh Sidhu to receive Padma Shri.
IN: Pierre Jeanneret Chandigarh heritage furniture auction in Brussels sparks diplomatic concern.

‘Akal Takht’ Declares CM Mann ‘Guru’s Betrayer’ & ‘Anti-Khalsa Panth’

Panjab: Farmers protest fertilizer shortage; Govt urged to release Bhakra surplus water; Controversy over BJP leader’s remark on ‘Operation Blue Star’. Sikh: 'Akal Takht' Declares CM Mann ‘Guru’s Betrayer’ & ‘Anti-Khalsa Panth’; Man Stabbed in UK; FIFA Canada allows 'Kirpan'—and more stories.

‘Operation Blue Star’ Marked Peacefully at Akal Takht; BJP Leader at Taksal HQ

Panjab: Cap private school fee hikes; Adani bags FCI’s silo contracts; BJP nominates Chugh to RS, Ayali joins 'Waris Panjab De'. Sikh: ‘Operation Blue Star’ marked peacefully at Akal Takht; BJP leader at Taksal HQ; UK Sikh MPs defend 'Kirpan'—and more stories.

Opposition Presents Evidence Against CM Mann & Demands Resignation