In a recorded video message, Mann claimed that the Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had been unable to gain the confidence of the people and were now resorting to what he described as false allegations of hurting religious sentiments.

Defending himself against the controversy surrounding an alleged video, the Chief Minister said he was being deliberately targeted in an attempt to tarnish his image.

“I am continuously engaged in public welfare work and will continue to serve the people. The opposition is only trying to defame me. The person shown in the video is not me. His physical appearance does not match mine. Neither his posture nor his manner of walking resembles me. This is nothing but a conspiracy to malign my reputation,” Mann said.

The Chief Minister further claimed that people across Punjab had recognised the truth behind the video. According to him, he had received hundreds of phone calls and video messages from citizens who believed that the individual seen in the footage was not him.

Mann alleged that when the opposition realised its campaign based on the video had failed to gain traction, it changed its narrative despite forensic examinations conducted by independent laboratories reportedly concluding that the video was fake.

Targeting the BJP, Mann accused the party of misusing its influence to challenge the forensic findings.

“The BJP intimidated the owners of the laboratories that conducted the examination and pressured them into claiming that the reports were manipulated,” he alleged.

Questioning the credibility of reports cited by his political opponents, Mann asked on what basis the BJP considered the findings of its chosen laboratories to be authentic while dismissing other forensic assessments.

“The people know the truth, and the final verdict will be delivered by the public. These parties have been rejected politically and socially, which is why they are resorting to such deceptive tactics to bring us down,” the Chief Minister said.

The controversy surrounding the video continues to trigger political debate in Punjab, with both the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and opposition parties standing by their respective claims.

The post Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann hits back at opposition over controversial video, calls allegations ‘baseless’ appeared first on PunjabENews.

Gyan Singh Mann, who is the son of the younger brother of the Punjab chief minister’s father, formally joined the BJP in the presence of Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar.

Haryana CM Nayab Saini present during induction.

According to sources, Bhagwant Mann’s mother and Gyan Singh Mann’s mother are real sisters, making the two leaders closely related within the family.

Other AAP leaders also join BJP

Apart from Gyan Singh Mann, AAP leaders Baljinder Barnala and Manjinder Khahira also joined the BJP during the event.

Manjinder Khahira had been serving as a zonal in-charge in the Aam Aadmi Party.

The political development comes amid increasing political tensions in Punjab following recent ED action against senior AAP leaders and ministers.

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