Chandigarh, June 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The confrontation between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Sikh religious authorities intensified further on Monday, with the Chief Minister launching a fresh attack on the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and accusing its leadership of openly acting as a political extension of the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Mann’s latest remarks came a day after he strongly rejected allegations linked to a controversial video and accused certain religious functionaries of acting under political influence. The controversy has gained momentum following the recent pronouncements by the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, who declared Mann a “Panth Virodhi” and “Guru Dokhi” and appealed to the Sikh Sangat to distance itself from him.
In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister took a sarcastic swipe at the SGPC leadership, particularly its president, alleging that the organisation had effectively become a campaign platform for the Shiromani Akali Dal.
“The SGPC president is openly functioning as a campaigner for the Akali Dal. The only thing left now is for the Jathedar Sahib to issue a directive asking Sikhs to vote for Sukhbir Singh Badal, otherwise declaring that the Panth is in danger,” Mann wrote.
He further remarked that such a decision could be taken “at any time,” indicating his belief that religious institutions were increasingly being used for political purposes.
War of Words Intensifies
The latest statement marks another sharp escalation in the ongoing war of words between Mann and sections of the Sikh religious establishment.
The dispute stems from a controversial video that became the subject of proceedings before Akal Takht Sahib. While the Chief Minister has consistently maintained that the person seen in the video is not him, religious authorities have taken a contrary position.
Responding to the developments on Sunday, Mann had categorically denied being the individual shown in the video and alleged that attempts were being made to malign his image because of decisions taken by his government in the interests of Punjab.
He had also accused certain office-bearers of acting at the behest of their political patrons and claimed that religion was being misused to target him politically.
Political Undertones
Mann’s latest post is being viewed as a direct challenge to what he describes as the growing overlap between religious authority and partisan politics.
By referring to Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Chief Minister sought to portray the actions against him as politically motivated rather than religiously driven.
The remarks are likely to trigger fresh reactions from the SGPC and Akali Dal leadership, further intensifying the debate over the role of religious institutions in Punjab’s political discourse.
Controversy Shows No Signs of Easing
With both sides hardening their positions, the dispute has evolved into one of the most high-profile confrontations between a sitting Punjab Chief Minister and influential Sikh religious bodies in recent years.
Political observers believe the controversy is likely to remain a major talking point in Punjab’s political and religious landscape in the days ahead, particularly as competing narratives continue to emerge from the government, the Akali Dal and Sikh religious institutions.
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