Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday strongly attacked the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Shiromani Akali Dal during a press conference in Chandigarh.
Mann said the Akali Dal was formed in 1920 and has now completed 105 years. “It was once a party of lions. Today, it has been reduced to a party of lizards. They are moving around like inflated dinosaurs. Where are they taking the Sikh community?” he asked.
Referring to the case related to the disappearance of 328 sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the chief minister said the government acted after receiving complaints from institutions and registered an FIR accordingly.
He said the SGPC itself had earlier passed resolutions calling for legal action. “Now that a case has been registered and they are in trouble, they are calling it an internal matter and asking the government not to intervene. The government will take legal action,” Mann said.
Mann also targeted the BJP, alleging that cartoons of the four Sahibzadas were posted on the party’s official page but no action was taken. Addressing the media, he said, “Do you know why nothing happened? They can already see 2027 coming. The BJP is forgiven for everything.”
The chief minister also came out in support of singer Jasbir Jassi over singing religious hymns. Mann said it is common for singers to begin programmes with religious songs.
He was responding to objections raised by Akal Takht Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj. Taking a swipe at the jathedar, Mann said he was appointed through nomination and should now take decisions for the Sikh panth.
