Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and reiterated his complete faith in the supreme temporal authority of the Sikhs, asserting that he accepts every decision taken by it and has no intention of questioning or undermining its supremacy.
Walking barefoot while reciting prayers, the Chief Minister bowed before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and devoted the entire day to the institution. He appeared before the Jathedar Sahib at the Akal Takht Secretariat, where he submitted a detailed clarification regarding his earlier statements, stating that he stands as a humble Sikh with unwavering belief in the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
After his appearance, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann told the media that he had personally complied with the directions issued by the Jathedar Sahib. “As per the orders of the Jathedar Sahib, I appeared here as a humble Sikh and submitted my explanation in response to the queries raised. Sri Akal Takht Sahib is the supreme authority for the entire Sikh community, and it is supreme for me as well,” he said.
He added that the Jathedar Sahib had recorded his statement and that further action would be taken after consultations with the Singh Sahibans.
Reaffirming his respect for the institution, the Chief Minister said, “I will abide by every decision of the Jathedar Sahib. My appearance here has given me immense contentment, inner peace and satisfaction.”
CM Mann also rejected claims of any confrontation between the Punjab government and Sri Akal Takht Sahib, describing such narratives as “totally false.” “There is no question of challenging or weakening the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, which is supreme for all the Sikhs. The domain of my government is crystal clear, to work for the progress of Punjab and the prosperity of its people,” he said.
Calling himself Punjab’s sewadar, the Chief Minister said his sole objective was the welfare of the state and its people. “I perform ardas daily for the chardi kala of the state. My head bows before every religious place even at a single glance. It is impossible that any action of mine can be against the state or its people,” he said.
Mann said that representing the sentiments of millions, he had submitted between 25,000 and 30,000 pages of complaints to the Jathedar Sahib. “These complaints reflect the emotions of people who have flagged various anomalies in the functioning of the SGPC. I have humbly requested the Jathedar Sahib to get these complaints investigated, as the feelings of millions are attached to them. Institutions are always supreme while individuals heading them can err, Such individuals deserve no leniency for their misdeeds,” he added.
Emphasising his acceptance of the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the Chief Minister said, “Every order of Sri Akal Takht Sahib is acceptable to me. It is the highest temporal body of the Sikhs, and my family and I abide by it fully.” He also expressed gratitude to the Jathedar Sahib for presenting him with two books related to the Sikh Rehat Maryada and the Gurdwara Act.
Clarifying the formation of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Mann said it was not politically motivated. “The SIT has been constituted solely to trace the missing saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. Its mandate is strictly confined to tracing them so that they are not misused,” he said. He added that he had sought the Jathedar Sahib’s intervention to direct the SGPC to provide unique codes assigned to each saroop published by it to assist in tracing the missing saroops.
The Chief Minister said the Punjab Police and the state government would trace the saroops and inform Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the SGPC about their location, ensuring further action strictly as per Rehat Maryada. “The police have already been instructed not to enter the premises of religious places where the saroops are traced,” he said. He also noted that the Jathedar Sahib had informed him that prior to 1998, the printing of Sri Guru Granth Sahib had taken place at multiple locations.