The political fallout from the Akal Takht’s recent directives concerning Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann appears to be widening, with the BJP claiming that Sikh ministers in the Union government will not meet the Chief Minister until he apologises before the highest Sikh temporal authority.
Punjab BJP president Keval Singh Dhillon said the Akal Takht holds supreme importance for Sikhs and that its directives must be respected. He urged Mann to resign from his post and seek forgiveness from the Akal Takht, arguing that the controversy has damaged the dignity of the office he holds.
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Dhillon further claimed that Sikh Union ministers would refrain from engaging with Mann until he complies with the directives and publicly apologises. While there has been no official confirmation from the Union government regarding such a stance, the BJP’s remarks signal an attempt to intensify pressure on the AAP government in Punjab.
The controversy stems from allegations linked to videos purportedly involving Mann. The Chief Minister has strongly denied the allegations, describing them as a conspiracy aimed at tarnishing his image and misleading the public.
The BJP has sought to frame the issue as one involving religious accountability and political conduct, while the Aam Aadmi Party accuses the opposition of exploiting the matter for electoral gains ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Dhillon also reiterated that the BJP intends to contest the next Assembly elections independently and expressed confidence that public dissatisfaction with the current government would help the party expand its influence in the state.
