Amritsar: In a significant political and religious development, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced on Sunday that all legislators of the Aam Aadmi Party will visit Sri Akal Takht Sahib to present their position before the Sikh clergy. The announcement follows a high-level party huddle in Amritsar chaired by Chief Minister Mann and attended by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, aimed at formulating a collective strategy regarding the directives issued by the supreme temporal seat of Sikhism.
#WATCH | Amritsar | Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann says, “All AAP MLAs and Cabinet ministers will appear before the Akal Takht tomorrow…For us Sri Akal Takht is supreme…” pic.twitter.com/FiPFq2VDCc
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2026
The decision marks a critical moment in the ongoing standoff between the ruling state government and the Sikh religious leadership. The Akal Takht Secretariat has directed all seventy-eight Sikh MLAs and nine Sikh cabinet ministers from across party lines to appear in person at the holy site on Monday, June 29. Meanwhile, non-Sikh cabinet ministers have been instructed to submit their views on the matter in writing.
The central point of discussion involves the recently enacted Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026. The legislation, which was unanimously passed by the Punjab Legislative Assembly on April 13, prescribes strict punishments, including life imprisonment and heavy fines, for any act of sacrilege against the holy scripture. However, the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee raised strong objections to the law, stating that the state government enacted the legislation without vital consultations with the Sikh Panth, the SGPC, or the supreme temporal body.
The Akal Takht had previously conveyed specific objections to Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, requesting the removal of certain clauses that they argued centralise control against the sentiments of the Sikh community. Due to a persistent lack of formal response from the state government to those objections, acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj issued direct summons to the individual legislators.
The impending appearance of the lawmakers also comes amid a tense political climate, following a recent edict issued by the Akal Takht on June 15 against Chief Minister Mann over a controversial viral video. While opposition parties have already confirmed their unconditional compliance with the religious decree, the ruling party’s decision to have its MLAs pay obeisance and place their position respectfully before the Singh Sahibans aims to address the sensitive issue while upholding the supremacy and traditions of the revered institution.
