It is probably for the first time in the history of Akal Takht that anyone has defied its orders the way Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has done. The Chief Minister has taken a position where it is difficult for him to make any amends and that does not bode well for his party.
Religious Sentiments at the Centre of Storm
The issue relates to a video where a person is seen, alleged to be Mann, sprinkling drops of liquor on a photograph carrying pictures of ten Gurus, besides trying to urinate in front of a tabletop statue of militant preacher Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale.
Mann Questioned Video’s Authenticity
When the video surfaced, Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party denied that it was a real video and instead said that it was generated through Artificial Intelligence. When Mann appeared before the Akal Takht Jathedar a few months ago, he used the same argument, denying the authenticity of the video. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj reportedly told him to get the video examined forensically, to which Mann agreed.
Jathedar Gets Videos Examined: Two Forensic Reports Rule Out AI Manipulation
Later, the government did not send the videos for forensic examination. Jathedar reportedly reminded Mann twice. Eventually, the Jathedar sent the video to two different forensic labs, which he said are recognized by the central government. The labs established that the videos were original and authentic and had not been generated by AI.
Akal Takht Declares Mann ‘Guru Dokhi’ & ‘Khalsa Panth Virodhi’
On the basis of these findings, the Akal Takht Jathedar declared Mann as ‘Guru Dokhi’ (enemy of the Guru) & ‘Khalsa Panth Virodhi’ (opposed to the Sikh community) and asked all the Sikhs to sever all connections with him. Mann, not known to give up, rejected the Akal Takht verdict and accused the Jathedar of following the diktats of his boss, Sukhbir Badal. Badal is the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, which controls the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, which appoints the Akal Takht Jathedar. That way, Badal in this case happens to be an indirect appointing authority of the Jathedar.
Even Critics of Akali Influence Say Akal Takht’s Action Cannot Be Judged in Isolation from the Facts
Mann apparently is trying to play to the anti-Akali public sentiment among a section of Sikhs, which believes that the Akal Takht Jathedar is being controlled by Badals. There indeed is a section of people which does believe that the Jathedar acted at the behest of the Badals. But there is an overwhelming section of people, which may agree that the Akal Takht Jathedar does act at the behest of the Badals, but in this case this section of people asserts that Akal Takht is justified in its action. This section believes that just because the Jathedar is appointed with the consent of the Akalis cannot negate the facts of the case and the purported video.
From Dera Pardon Row to Mann Standoff: The Debate Has Shifted from Influence to Defiance
In fact, Mann’s defiance of the Akal Takht Jathedar’s orders has neutralized to a large degree the hostility people nourished against the Badals for their past actions like getting the Dera Sacha Sauda chief pardoned without even appearing personally before the Akal Takht and seeking forgiveness. The general feeling is that the Badals may have influenced the decisions, but they have never defied the authority of the Akal Takht.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Set a Precedent That Continues to Define the Akal Takht’s Authority
Mann is a duly elected Chief Minister of the state, having got an overwhelming mandate in 2022. But in front of the Akal Takht every Sikh is equal. Even the all-powerful Maharaja Ranjit Singh had also appeared before the Akal Takht and humbly accepted its decision.
For Centuries, Sikhs Have Accepted Akal Takht Verdicts as a Matter of Conviction, Not Obligation
Mann apparently feels that how can one person have such sweeping powers and authority to decide the destiny of someone and that too an elected and popular Chief Minister. The Akal Takht does not award any punitive punishments after holding someone guilty. Nor is it legally binding on anyone. But the Sikhs abide by the Akal Takht verdict as the final word from Maharaja Ranjit Singh to Surjit Singh Barnala, Buta Singh and Sukhbir Badal, just to name a few.
In Punjab’s Religious-Political Landscape, Defying the Akal Takht Could Prove Far More Costly Than Accepting Its Verdict
In case Mann continues with his defiance, it will definitely prove counterproductive for the ruling party in the coming assembly elections. At the same time, it will be for the first time that the Akal Takht orders will be defied and rejected. That is why a majority of Sikhs favour that Mann should accept the Akal Takht orders and appear before it. Giani Gargaj may not appeal to Mann as a person, but he represents the Supreme Temporal Authority of the Sikhs, whose orders are unconditionally binding on every Sikh. It is not Giani Gargaj, but the authority of the Akal Takht, that is being seen to be challenged that the AAP can ignore it at its own risk.
(Views expressed are personal.)