Panjab CM Appears at 'Akal Takht'

Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT) Secretariat on 15 Jan. Before appearing at the AT Secretariat, he offered prayers at the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple). Mann had come barefoot as he had announced, but with a large retinue of security guards and assistants. He carried a suitcase and later told journalists that he had submitted his clarifications with documentation to the AT Acting Jathedar (leader) Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj. Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Baba Tek Singh was also present in the meeting. Mann said, 'Sri Akal Takht Sahib is the supreme authority for the entire Sikh community. The Jathedar Sahib has recorded my statement, and further action will be taken after consultations with the Singh Sahibans (loved ones). I will abide by every decision of the Jathedar Sahib. My appearance here has given me immense contentment, inner peace, and satisfaction.' Jathedar Gargajj said Mann admitted during their meeting that he shouldn’t have said certain things on religious affairs of the Sikhs and assured him that he would desist from making any such statements in future. He added that the explanation given by Mann on the charges of religious misconduct would be taken up in the next meeting of the five Singh Sahiban. The Jathedar said he had asked Mann to name two forensic laboratories where the videos purportedly showing him disrespecting the Sikh Sovereigns could be examined. On the same day, Indian President Draupadi Murmu presided over the 50^th Golden Jubilee of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU). The ceremony was held in the presence of the Governor of Panjab and Chancellor, GNDU, Gulab Chand Kataria, Panjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, and Amritsar Member of Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla. However, on 18 Jan, Mann attacked the apex representative body of the Sikhs, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami. He said, 'Instead of calling himself a soldier of Guru Gobind Singh, Dhami calls himself a soldier of Sukhbir Singh Badal (chief of Shiromani Akali Dal). What good can be expected from such a person, who takes pride in serving someone who ruined Panjab with every move? (earlier coverage).'