AMRITSAR, Jan 15: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday presented himself before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and said he accepts its authority without reservation, asserting that neither he nor his government would ever act in a manner that undermines its supremacy.
After meeting the Jathedar Sahib at the Akal Takht Secretariat, Mann told mediapersons that his appearance was in line with the directions issued to him. “I came here as a humble Sikh and placed my explanation before the Jathedar Sahib,” he said. “Sri Akal Takht Sahib is the highest temporal body of the Sikhs, and my family and I abide by its decisions fully.”
The chief minister said the Jathedar Sahib had documented his statement and that further steps would be taken after consultations with the Singh Sahibans. “I will abide by whatever decision is taken,” Mann said, adding that the visit had given him “peace and satisfaction.”
Mann dismissed suggestions of a standoff between the Akal Takht and the Punjab government. “Some forces are trying to create a false narrative,” he said. “There is no tussle. There is no question of challenging the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.”
Describing himself as a sewadar of Punjab, Mann said his responsibilities were confined to governance and public welfare. “My government’s domain is clear,” he said. “It is to work for the progress of Punjab and the prosperity of Punjabis.”
The chief minister also said he had submitted thousands of pages of complaints to the Jathedar Sahib concerning alleged irregularities within the SGPC. “These complaints carry the emotions of lakhs and crores of people,” he said. “I requested that they be examined, because institutions matter more than individuals.”
Addressing concerns over the Special Investigation Team formed to trace missing saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Mann said the SIT’s role was limited and focused. “Its only mandate is to trace the missing saroops,” he said. “There is no political intent behind it.”
Mann said the state government had sought assistance from the Jathedar Sahib to direct the SGPC to share identification codes of saroops published by it to aid the investigation. He added that police had been instructed not to enter religious premises and that all actions would follow Rehat Maryada.
The chief minister also said he was informed that prior to 1998, printing of the Guru Granth Sahib had taken place at multiple locations.
