AMRITSAR: Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj has summoned the Punjab CM Bhagwant man to appear at his secretariat on January 15 over alleged “anti-Sikh statements,” “offensive behavior” and a recently surfaced video that Takht said deeply hurt Sikh sentiments.Mann posted on “Every order of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Ji will be accepted and followed with full reverence. I will walk barefoot in front of Sri Akal Takht Sahib,” he said.Mann said even though the president is visiting Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar on January 15, he will still comply with Takht’s summons. “For me, Sri Akal Takht Sahib Ji is above everything. “The command I received from the Holy Takht is, was and will always be the top priority for me and my family,” he said. Jathedar Gargajj said the CM, despite holding a high constitutional office, had repeatedly made statements questioning “Sikh Rehat Maryada (religious code of conduct)”, the supremacy of Akal Takht and the sanctity of Guru Ki Golak. “These comments reflect an arrogance of power and an anti-Sikh mindset,” Gargajj alleged.Explaining why the CM was not summoned to appear at the façade (Fasil) of Akal Takht, the Jathedar said that Bhagwant Mann was a “Patit (apostate)” and as per Sikh tradition he could not be summoned to appear at Fasil. “Therefore, he was asked to appear in person at the Akal Takht Secretariat at 10 a.m. on January 15 to make his statement,” Gargajj said.Jathedar Gargajj said a controversial video that surfaced recently would be subjected to forensic examination and if found authentic, strict panthic action would follow.Mann received support from rather unexpected quarters. BJP criticized Akal Takht’s summons. The party’s Punjab spokesperson Sarchand Singh called it a “well-orchestrated exercise” to protect senior Shiromani Akali Dal leaders and those facing arrest over the 328 missing holy saroops from Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Invoking “religious resistance” was a tactic to put pressure on the CM and hamper the SIT probe, he said. He said there was no panthic tradition of summoning a ‘Patit’ Sikh, even in the Akal Takht Secretariat.
