Jalandhar: Two days after the political turmoil in Punjab following the edict of the highest religious authority in Sikhism, the Akal Takht, against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Aam Aadmi Party leader lashed out at traditional parties for misusing religion to defame him and said that he was being targeted for governing Punjab effectively.This is Mann’s first response to the Akal Takht’s June 15 directive, where the five members of the Sikh clergy, the Singh Sahiban, called him a ‘Guru dokhi’ or the Guru’s adversary, and a ‘Khalsa Panth virodhi’ or one who is anti-Khalsa Panth. The Akal Takht cited Mann’s apparent poor handling of Sikh affairs and a controversial video, in which a man purporting to be the CM is seen sprinkling alcohol on holy images.CM Mann, who has taken a defiant stand against the Akal Takht, said that a conspiracy was being hatched in the garb of religion to defame him for taking ‘pro-Punjab’ decisions.“They [the opposition] could not digest either the enactment of the historic Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act 2026, or the fact that a son of a common man was governing Punjab effectively. The people of Punjab have lost faith in these parties because of their anti-people and anti-Punjab policies. Previous rulers were more concerned about their families than Punjab and Punjabis and that is why they have been shown the door,” the CM said.The sacrilege lawThe CM while addressing a public meeting at Bihala village in Hoshiarpur district said that while the AAP government was protecting Punjab’s interests and delivering welfare, opposition leaders have been busy spreading misinformation.The CM brought up the newly implemented sacrilege law during the meeting and said, “Whenever incidents of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib took place, the psyche of crores of people was deeply hurt. There was always hope that the culprits would be caught. Several times they were arrested too but loopholes in the law allowed them to escape punishment by declaring them mentally unstable,” the CM said.“The Almighty has blessed me with the wisdom and strength to bring the historic anti-desecration legislation. The Sacrilege Act will ensure strict punishment for sacrilege,” he added.Also read: AAP Govt’s New Anti-Sacrilege Law Draws Flak as Victims of 2015 Cases Still Await JusticeThe BadalLashing out at the opposition, particularly the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, Mann said, “Those who admitted their mistakes before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and later retracted them have no moral right to lecture others. The Akalis never wanted stringent law against sacrilege, their political interests always came first.”The Akal Takht had punished Sukhbir Singh Badal following his alleged mishandling of sacrilege cases and a police firing at Behbal Kalan in December 2024. However, following the ‘punishment’, the SAD used significant political might to get the head of the Akal Takht changed, along with other key Sikh clergy.Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal visits flood-affected villages and interacts with locals, in Patiala, Punjab, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.Photo: PTI.“They were never sincere about enacting such a law when they were in power. The truth is that their intentions were flawed. The Akalis allowed sacrilege incidents to take place for their political gains. Our government has drafted the sacrilege bill carefully so that no future amendments or loopholes can weaken it. It will act as a deterrent for anti-social elements and prevent such incidents in future,” the CM stated.He emphasised, “The Akalis even admitted their mistakes before the Akal Takht but later denied them publicly. Those who can lie before Sri Akal Takht Sahib can never be loyal to anyone.”The CM claimed that the SAD has been misusing religion for their political interests. “Who does not know that Jathedars (the head of Sikh troops) are appointed from the pockets of the Akalis? That is why they are indulging in politics,” he said.Without naming the current head of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, who was appointed hurriedly and without the formal installation ceremony in the presence of key religious representatives, Mann said, “One ‘Jathedar’ assumed office in the early hours fearing backlash and now they are conspiring against me under the garb of religion. These people have no agenda except to defame me by hook or by crook.”Akal Takht head Kuldeep Singh Gargaj’s hushed appointment took place on March 10, 2025 after the temporal heads of Akal Takht and Takht Damdama Sahib were removed in a controversial move by the SAD-backed Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC). Gargaj was seen as a political appointee.Opposition pitches for CM’s resignationThe CM also said that the traditional parties including the SAD and the Congress had looted Punjab for years while operating under an understanding among themselves to safeguard their interests in power.He said that earlier only two parties “played musical chairs” in government and exploited the sentiments of the people while plundering the state’s wealth. “Now, people have the option of the humble broom, which has cleansed the political system of Punjab,” he said.Following Akal Takht’s proclamation against CM Bhagwant Mann, the clamour for his resignation has started gaining momentum among the opposition. From Punjab Congress leadership to the SAD and BJP have been rooting for Mann’s ouster.The BJP Punjab led by its newly appointed president Keval Singh Dhillon said that Sikh union ministers will also boycott CM Mann. “The BJP’s Sikh union ministers will also not hold meetings with CM Mann until he accepts the Akal Takht’s directives and apologises for his acts,” he said.BJP’s national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill also posted on X: “Guru Dokhi, Khalsa Panth Virodhi. Bhagwant Mann has no moral right to continue as CM of Punjab.”Another saffron party leader Tajinder Bagga, who is the national secretary of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha posted on X:“Shri Akal Takht Sahib sent the video for forensic examination to two laboratories. According to Jathedar Sahib, both reports found no signs of AI generation, fabrication, or tampering. The video showed Bhagwant Mann consuming alcohol and splashing liquor on photographs of the Sikh Gurus.“If the Chief Minister has lost the confidence of Shri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, he has no moral authority to continue in office. Bhagwant Mann must resign immediately.”Former Punjab chief minister, the Congress’ Charanjit Singh Channi, also cornered CM Mann and said even Maharaja Ranjit Singh was summoned by the Akal Takht Sahib. “But Maharaja Ranjit Singh respectfully appeared before the Akal Takht and did not adopt a defiant stand as is being shown by CM Mann. When summoned by the Akal Takht, Ranjit Singh had accepted the punishment and he was whipped,” he added.In AAP’s Punjab party, it is only Harjot Singh Bains, state minister for education, urban local bodies, and information and public relations who has publicly supported Mann.In a post on X, Bains wrote:“An attempt is being made to tarnish the image of CM Bhagwant Mann on the basis of a video. While presenting his side at Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the CM has clearly stated that the person in the video is not him. However, some forces troubled by the decisions being taken by him for the betterment of Punjab and in the interests of its public are trying to divert people’s attention from real issues. But, the people of Punjab have the ability to sift truth from lies.”