Jalandhar: In a development which could have far reaching consequences, the Akal Takht, the highest seat of authority of the Sikhs on June 15 proclaimed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is a ‘Guru dokhi’ or the Guru’s adversary.The Takth also said that Mann was ‘Khalsa panth virodhi’ or anti-Khalsa Panth, citing a video it deemed objectionable and his government’s handling of Sikh religious matters.The Akal Takth is situated on the premises of the Golden Temple in Amritsar.A gathering of five Singh Sahibans – the clergy of the Akal Takht – unanimously passed two resolutions. One is on The Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, which was passed by the Punjab government on April 13, allegedly without consulting central Sikh institutions. The second resolution is related to a video in which Mann is allegedly seen sprinkling alcohol on a photograph of Sikh Gurus.The Akal Takht’s decision comes at a time when the Punjab assembly elections are just six months away. The opposition, ranging from the Congress to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) have been seeking Mann’s resignation with immediate effect.श्री अकाल तख्त साहिब ने भगवंत मान को ‘गुरु-द्रोही’ और ‘पंथ विरोधी’ घोषित किया है।ये गंभीर फैसला कथित वीडियो की फॉरेंसिक जांच के बाद लिया गया है, जिसके बाद श्री अकाल तख्त साहिब ने सिख संगत से कहा है कि वे भगवंत मान से कोई संबंध न रखें।इस फैसले के बाद भगवंत मान ने मुख्यमंत्री… pic.twitter.com/JGaJQ4wwDn— Congress (@INCIndia) June 15, 2026On May 8, the Akal Takht had summoned Punjab assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhawan and had given him 15 days to facilitate amendments in accordance with points raised by the Sikh clergy. However, CM Mann, who has been leading a ‘Shukrana Yatra’ or thanksgiving procession across Punjab on the successful implementation of the sacrilege law had categorically refused to amend or repeal the act, inviting the ire of the Sikh clergy.Akal Takht’s statementIn a press statement, the Akal Takht noted that despite having given written objections to the Punjab government through Speaker Sandhawan on May 11, no amendments were made. “The Punjab government ignored the objections and adopted what is described as an ‘obstinate and arrogant’ attitude’,” the statement read.Also read: AAP Govt’s New Anti-Sacrilege Law Draws Flak as Victims of 2015 Cases Still Await JusticeThe statement further read that CM Bhagwant Mann through his public statements challenged the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, hence causing resentment within the Sikh community and creating divisions among Sikhs in Punjab.The Akal Takht has also summoned Sikh ministers of the Punjab cabinet – except CM Mann – and other Sikh MLAs from various political parties to the secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib on June 29. It also sought written explanations from non-Sikh ministers of the Punjab cabinet.In the case of a complaint submitted against CM Mann in a video that the Akal Takht submitted on January 4, the religious seat’s resolution stated that when summoned on January 15, CM Mann had claimed before the Akal Takht that the video was fake and generated through Artificial Intelligence.The Akal Takht says it had asked the CM to suggest two forensic laboratories for examination of the video, and a formal letter was sent for the same on January 27. “The Akal Takht did not receive any response from CM Bhagwant Mann or his office,” the statement read.After failing to get any response, the Akal Takht said that it had independently done forensic examinations from two government-recognised laboratories. “The reports dated May 27, 2026 and June 13, 2026 concluded that the video was authentic and showed no evidence of tampering or AI-generated manipulation,” the statement mentioned.On the alleged video of CM Mann, the Akal Takht’s statement read: “The video shows CM Bhagwant Mann sprinkling liquor on a widely recognised symbolic picture of ten revered Sikh Gurus and engaging in a highly objectionable act involving the photograph of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale, a prominent Sikh figure while also splashing alcohol on his image. The Khalsa Panth cannot tolerate such actions under any circumstances.”Following deliberations with religious organisations, scholars and legal experts, the Akal Takht said that it was of the view that CM Mann should be declared as Guru’s adversary and anti-Khalsa Panth. “The Akal Takht also directed the members of the Sikh community not to associate themselves with CM Mann,” the statement read.“Chief Minister Punjab Bhagwant Mann made false statements before Sri Akal Takht Sahib regarding the video, raising concerns about his ability to make decisions in the interests of Sikh Gurus and the Sikh community while serving as CM,” the Akal Takht clergy stated.A rethinking of SAD strategyTerming the current developments “arm-twisting tactics”, Amritsar based senior journalist Jaspal Singh Sidhu said that the Akal Takht’s decision was “politically motivated.”Sidhu said, “It is unfortunate on the part of the Akal Takth and the AAP government that they are targeting each other. They should not have gone to this extent.”Shedding light on the chronology of events after the implementation of the sacrilege law, Sidhu said that initially the Akal Takht had welcomed it. “However, when they noticed the AAP government promoting the act through Shukrana Yatras, getting political mileage out of it and influencing Sikh politics, they started protesting,” he said.Sidhu said that the video was also testament to a Shiromani Akali Dal-led political thinking. “From digging out old videos to making them viral and ensuring Akal Takht action, it appears as a strategy of the SAD to corner Bhagwant Mann,” he added.The Mann government too had targeted the SAD through the Akal Takht. On March 7, 2025, former Akal Takht head Giani Raghbir Singh was removed from his post after he had punishing SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal in December 2024.The Akal Takht had declared Sukhbir Badal ‘tankhiya’ – the word for one who suffers punishment for religious misconduct, given by the highest Sikh authority. Serving out his punishment, Badal had performed the duty of ‘sewadar’ in a blue uniform outside the entrance of the Golden Temple.ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਮਹਾਨ ਹੈਸਿੱਖ ਪੰਥ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਾਨ ਹੈ 🙏ਕੁੱਝ ਮਹੀਨੇ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਭਗਵੰਤ ਮਾਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਾਡੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਾਹਿਬਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਕੌਮ ਦੇ ਮਹਾਨ ਸਿੱਖ ਸੰਤ ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਭਿੰਡਾਂਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਘੋਰ ਨਿਰਾਦਰ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਕੋਝੀਆਂ, ਸ਼ਰਮਨਾਕ ਅਤੇ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਮੁਆਫ਼ ਨਾ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾਣਯੋਗ ਬੱਜਰ ਗੁਨਾਹਾਂ ਵਾਲੀ ਇੱਕ ਵੀਡੀਓ ਵਾਇਰਲ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ।ਜਿਸਦਾ… pic.twitter.com/BISjXMdJUM— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) June 15, 2026Challenging Akal Takht’s supremacyChandigarh-based Sikh scholar and sociologist Manjit Singh said the Akal Takht’s decision “will certainly affect the poll prospects of AAP” at a time when a second consecutive win in Punjab is crucial for AAP’s political relevance in the state and national politics.Kejriwal had announced that Mann would be the chief ministerial face of AAP in the 2027 assembly polls. The decision could lead to Mann’s removal, Singh says.Singh also pointed out how Mann had started projecting AAP as the sole custodian of Sikhs. “Bhagwant Mann publicly challenged the authority of Akal Takht and blatantly refused to amend the newly passed sacrilege act,” he said, as examples of his move by Mann.Singh added that Mann allegedly not responding to the Akal Takht’s directive to get the video examined was sure to have dragged the matter to its current conclusion.But Singh believes that if CM Mann and AAP’s Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia visit the Akal Takht and apologise, there is some hope of remedy. “The Badals also made the same mistake of not accepting their ‘fault’ and have been bearing the brunt of their decision till date,” he said.‘Will bring facts to the fore’Meanwhile, AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu in a press conference stated that the amendment in the sacrilege law was not going down well with the opposition. “SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal is on parole in the Kotakpura firing case. The opposition is alarmed that the investigation in the Behbal Kalan police firing case might also lead towards them. The amendment in the Satkar act has panicked the self-proclaimed panthic party’,” he said.On the row over the video, Pannu said that the Akal Takht ‘s forensic report has not mentioned who the person was in the video and that it merely says that the video was authentic. “The Akal Takht head Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj stated that the alleged video was authentic and was not AI generated. But where does the report mention the height of CM Mann? The question is who is the person in the video and which hotel room was that? Did the report prove that? We will bring facts to the fore in the coming days,” Pannu said.Earlier, Pannu cornered SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal for mishandling the 2015 sacrilege incidents and the subsequent Behbal Kalan police firing case. “When in 2022, the CM Mann-led AAP government came to power, it left the opposition, primarily the Akalis alarmed. They have been tarnishing CM Mann’s image since day one and now they have resorted to dirty politics,” he added.