Chandigarh witnessed a fresh political and religious controversy on Friday as Youth Akali Dal (YAD) president Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer strongly condemned a statement made by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader had reportedly thrown down a challenge to the jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, for a public question-and-answer session.
A Violation of Sikh Code of Conduct
In a sharp reaction, Jhinjer labeled the chief minister's move as a blatant violation of Sikh maryada, which is the community's established code of conduct. He accused Mann of displaying an arrogant and insulting attitude towards one of the highest and most revered institutions in Sikhism. The Akal Takht, located in Amritsar, is the primary seat of temporal authority for Sikhs worldwide, and its jathedar holds a position of immense spiritual and communal respect.
Jhinjer did not mince words in his criticism, questioning the chief minister's very right to issue such a challenge. He stated that a person with no deep understanding of Sikh rehat (discipline), maryada, and history has no right to even contemplate a debate with the jathedar of the highest Sikh Takht. This comment was seen as a direct attack on Mann's personal religious credentials and his grasp of theological matters.
Exposing 'Double Standards' and a 'False Persona'
The YAD president further escalated his attack by highlighting what he called the chief minister's hypocrisy. On one hand, Mann frequently projects himself as a 'humble Sikh', Jhinjer noted, while on the other hand, he challenges the authority of the Sri Akal Takht Sahib jathedar. This contradiction, according to Jhinjer, exposes Mann's double standards and false public persona.
The statement from the Youth Akali Dal chief is likely to fuel ongoing political tensions in Punjab, where religious sentiment and political discourse are often deeply intertwined. It positions the Akali Dal, a party with a strong Sikh political base, against the ruling AAP on a matter of religious protocol and respect. The controversy puts the spotlight back on Bhagwant Mann's relationship with traditional Sikh institutions and how his actions are perceived within the community's framework of religious observance and authority.
