The supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs, the Akal Takht, has formally summoned Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to appear before its secretariat, accusing him of displaying an "anti-Sikh mentality" and wounding religious sentiments. Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj has called upon the Chief Minister to present himself on January 15, 2026, to provide clarifications on his recent statements and an alleged controversial video.
The Core Allegations and the Summons
In an official statement, the Akal Takht secretariat charged Bhagwant Mann with making "highly objectionable remarks" against the Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct) and the principle of 'dasvandh' or 'Guru Ki Golak'. The Takht stated that his comments, made during a discussion on a Panthic issue, deliberately hurt Sikh sentiments.
Furthermore, the summons references an unverified video that has recently surfaced. This video purportedly shows a person resembling Mann committing acts of sacrilege with images of Sikh Gurus and the late Damdami Taksal head, Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The Akal Takht note explicitly mentions that it is "not verified if the video is original or AI-generated," but has nonetheless included it in the list of grievances.
Significantly, the summons acknowledges that Mann is a "patit" Sikh—one who has cut his hair, thereby deviating from the orthodox Sikh code. Due to this status, he cannot be brought before the railing of the Akal Takht. Consequently, he has been asked to appear in person at the secretariat on the specified date at 10:00 AM to submit his response.
Historical Context of Akal Takht Summons
This is not an isolated incident in Punjab's political and religious history. The Akal Takht has historically summoned prominent political figures for perceived violations. The summons draws parallels to past cases involving top leaders.
In 2024, former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was summoned and declared "tankhaiya" (guilty of religious misconduct). His father and former chief minister, Prakash Singh Badal, was also summoned on October 4, 1979.
The aftermath of Operation Blue Star in 1984 saw several leaders, including former President Giani Zail Singh, former Punjab CM Surjit Singh Barnala, and former Union minister Buta Singh, being summoned and declared tankhaiya. More recently, in 2014, then-Akali Dal minister Bikram Singh Majithia faced a similar summons for allegedly tampering with the Guru Granth Sahib during a political speech.
The Triggering Controversy
The immediate trigger for the current summons appears to be Mann's recent questioning of certain Sikh religious protocols. The controversy erupted when Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi performed a religious song on a stage where the Guru Granth Sahib was installed. Chief Minister Mann had publicly questioned the rules that prohibit a person with cut hair (a patit) from singing in such a setting.
The Akal Takht statement criticizes this, suggesting that Mann's remarks reflect "political arrogance." It emphasizes that by holding a constitutional office, his statements carry significant weight and thus his alleged anti-Sikh comments are viewed with grave concern by the religious authority.
The development sets the stage for a significant confrontation between the elected political leadership of Punjab and the highest Sikh temporal authority. All eyes will be on whether Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann chooses to appear before the Akal Takht secretariat on January 15, 2026, and how he responds to the serious charges leveled against him.
