Chandigarh, June 24
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said that a fake video was deliberately created and circulated to defame him after his political opponents failed to challenge the work being done by his Government for the people of Punjab. Pointing out that the opposition is misleading people in the name of religion and resorting to petty politics, the Chief Minister said that those who have no issue left against his Government are now trying to tarnish his image through fabricated propaganda.
Reposing complete faith in the wisdom of the Nanak Naam Leva Sangat, Mann said that truth will ultimately prevail and he leaves the final verdict to the Sangat. and he will continue working tirelessly for electricity, water, roads, hospitals, Aam Aadmi Clinics and employment while the people deliver the final verdict. In a video message, Mann said, “For the past few days, as part of a very cheap political conspiracy, fake videos of me have been circulated. When my opponents find themselves unable to challenge me on any other front, they try to defame me through religious issues.”
Referring to a video that was recently circulated, Mann said, “A video was made viral in which neither the person’s physical appearance, height, manner of walking nor body language matches mine. Yet, my political opponents tried to portray me as guilty. However, the people and the Sikh community saw the video and it was obvious to them that it was fake.”
The Chief Minister said that the state government had the video examined by forensic laboratories, but now those laboratories are being targeted. “Those who own and operate that laboratory are being targeted because the BJP, Akali Dal and Congress have united against me,” he said.
Mann said that the controversy started backfiring on his opponents and people started criticizing them for releasing a fake video. “As a result, they are stooping too low in politics. They are intimidating the laboratory owners through threats of FIRs and pressure tactics, forcing them to claim that they were paid money to prepare a false report. According to them, the laboratory we used was fake while the one they used is genuine. However, people know very well what is real and what is not,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that he has full faith in the Sikh sangat and the people of Punjab. “I leave this matter to the people and the Sri Nanak Naam Leva sangat. The reality is that these parties have failed politically and socially in Punjab. Therefore, they have now chosen to target me on religious grounds. Every day they create new fake videos and circulate them through their social media platforms,” he said.
Mann said that such tactics would not deter him from serving the people. “I will continue working for electricity, water, roads, village ponds, Aam Aadmi Clinics, hospitals and employment opportunities. I will continue working with the same dedication and speed. As long as the people stand with me, none of this affects me,” he said.
Warning the opposition against adopting such methods, the Chief Minister said, “Politics has fallen to a very low level because they have no other way to oppose me. They continuously try to defame me through one accusation or another. Now the SGPC has ordered the putting up posters outside Gurdwara Sahibs calling for my boycott.”
Mann questioned why similar posters were not put up against the Akali Dal or Sukhbir Singh Badal after they admitted responsibility for incidents of sacrilege. “On December 2, before Sri Akal Takht Sahib, they acknowledged their mistakes, admitted wrongdoing, accepted responsibility for the firing incidents and admitted that orders were given against the sangat. Did anyone put up posters outside gurdwaras calling for their boycott?” he asked.
The Chief Minister said that the sangat is wise and the people are supreme. “These individuals are acting out of arrogance because they have no real issue left to raise against me,” added Mann.
