Chandigarh, February 4
Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Partap Singh Bajwa, today asked the leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party to immediately clarify whether the controversial remark posted by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on his personal “X” account reflects the official stand of the party or was merely his personal opinion.
With a post on social media, Bajwa said he was deeply pained by the Chief Minister’s comment, which has hurt the religious sentiments of lakhs of followers and devotees associated with saints and spiritual institutions, including followers of Dera Beas in India and abroad. He said such remarks are alien to Punjab’s cultural and spiritual ethos, where saints, seers, and spiritual leaders have always been held in the highest reverence.
Bajwa emphasized that no Chief Minister in Punjab’s history has ever made such remarks about saints or spiritual figures, and reminded that Gurbani accords the highest respect to saints, sadhs, and brahmagyani, describing them as deeply united with the Divine.
The Leader of Opposition directly questioned the AAP leadership, including party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia, Punjab president Aman Arora, Minister Harjot Singh Bains, MP Malvinder Singh Kang, Chief Spokesperson Kuldeep Dhaliwal, and other AAP leaders to state clearly before the people of Punjab whether the Chief Minister’s remark represents the party’s official line.
Bajwa urged Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj, to place before the sangat the veracity of the video clip allegedly showing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann committing blasphemy and dishonouring the Sikh Gurus. He said clarity on the authenticity of the clip is essential to uphold the sanctity of Sikh institutions and to ensure that the truth is transparently shared with the Sikh community.
Bajwa also appreciated Banga MLA Dr. Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi for resigning from his cabinet-rank chairmanship, stating that his decision reflected respect for the religious sentiments of the sangat associated with Baba Nabha Kamal Raja Sahib.
Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, Bajwa said Punjab has had enough of jokes, theatrics and sarcasm over the last four years. “The people now expect serious governance, not comedy. Punjab needs leadership, stability, and respect for its institutions and traditions,” he said, adding that repeated disparaging remarks against farmers, employees, Sikh institutions, and now saints do not befit the constitutional office of the Chief Minister.
Bajwa concluded by reiterating that the Aam Aadmi Party must come out with a clear and unambiguous stand, and that Sikh institutions must ensure transparency, so as to dispel confusion and prevent further hurt to religious sentiments across Punjab.
