BJP National General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh said it is extremely unfortunate and painful that the Punjab government is attempting to challenge Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the supreme temporal authority established by Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib.
Chugh said that when Akal Takht Sahib summoned Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and sought an explanation regarding the video controversy, the Chief Minister claimed that the videos had been generated through Artificial Intelligence and requested that they be investigated.
However, two independent and credible agencies have now established that the videos are authentic, have not been manipulated and that the Chief Minister's claims were completely false. Chugh said that the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib himself publicly stated that the conduct reflected in the videos was against maryada, socially unacceptable, irresponsible and highly condemnable.
He said that after being declared a ‘Guru Drokhi’ and ‘Anti Sikh’ by Akal Takht Sahib and after such severe observations were made against him, Bhagwant Mann no longer has any moral, social or political legitimacy to continue as Chief Minister. He must immediately resign along with his entire Cabinet and present himself before Akal Takht Sahib in repentance.
Chugh said that instead of seeking forgiveness, Bhagwant Mann has chosen the path of arrogance and has gone a step further by challenging Akal Takht Sahib itself. He said Akal Takht Sahib is a source of inspiration, guidance and supreme reverence for all Nanak Naam Leva devotees.
Attempting to question its authority and politicise its decisions is a grave offence. He added that this reflects an attitude of adding defiance to wrongdoing and history has repeatedly shown that arrogance ultimately leads to downfall. Chugh said that he offered prayers today for the early realization of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a Viksit Bharat, for global peace and for Punjab's prosperity.
He said Punjab must be liberated from financial distress, the menace of drugs and the grip of gangsterism. However, the Bhagwant Mann government has failed on every front. Despite announcing two wars against drugs, narcotics continue to spread openly across Punjab and the people are bearing the consequences of this failure.
BJP Punjab President Sardar Kewal Singh Dhillon said Punjab is the land of the Gurus, martyrs and a glorious civilisational heritage. No political party or individual has the right to undermine Sikh maryada or challenge an institution as revered as Akal Takht Sahib.
He said the people of Punjab are closely observing these developments and will deliver a democratic response at the appropriate time. Dhillon said the Bharatiya Janata Party remains fully committed to protecting Punjab's identity, Punjabiyat and Sikh traditions.
He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP is continuously working to build a drug free, secure and prosperous Punjab and a double engine government will provide a new direction for the state's development.