Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal were not personally summoned before the Sri Akal Takht Sahib. The Akal Takht had summoned ministers and MLAs of the AAP government in connection with matters related to controversial statements and the sacrilege law.
Regarding this, Bhagwant Mann clarified that despite not being personally summoned, respecting the supremacy of the Akal Takht, all Sikh ministers and MLAs of his party appeared before the Akal Takht on June 29th to submit their written explanations. Earlier in January, CM Bhagwant Mann had personally appeared before the Akal Takht and presented his side of the story.
It is noteworthy that based on the forensic report, the Akal Takht had declared CM Bhagwant Mann a “traitor to the Guru” and “anti-Khalsa Panth” in connection with an alleged objectionable viral video and falsehood.
The Sikh community was directed by the Jathedar of Akal Takht to ‘sever their ties’ with Mann. The Akal Takht ordered all summoned AAP leaders to perform ‘seva’ at Sri Akal Takht Sahib as a religious punishment (tankhah) and repent for their conduct. The AAP party leaders have said that they will accept the decisions and instructions of the Akal Takht with full faith.