Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Celebration (AAP) suffered a setback on Sunday when Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, an MLA from Banga, resigned from his ministerial submit and as chairman of the Punjab State Warehousing Company in protest towards the federal government’s declare of “unauthorized restoration” of 139 Guru Granth Sahib from a gurdwara in his constituency.
The transfer comes amid a heated controversy sparked by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s announcement at Majhi Mela in Muktsar on Wednesday that the Gurudwara in Banga homes 169 Guru Granth Sahib, of whom 139 are “unauthorized”. Mann predicted their “restoration” on account of the federal government’s success within the case the place 328 saroops (copies) of Guru Granth Sahib allegedly went lacking.
Sukhhi gained the 2022 meeting elections as an Akali Dal candidate however joined AAP in August final yr in Mann’s presence and was subsequently given a ministerial place and a submit in a PSU.
The Gurdwara Administration Committee, in a press convention on Thursday, vehemently protested the federal government’s transfer, claiming that the Guru Granth Sahib proven as “recovered” was not from the lacking 328 saroops.
“What authority does the prime minister should ask us the place the saroop within the gurdwara comes from?” mentioned Amrik Singh, a member of the gurdwara administration committee. He added that he was an energetic supporter of AAP within the area and had determined to give up the celebration.
The resignation additional strains relations between Mann and the Akal Takht, already fragile after the federal government revived a five-year-old dispute and filed a police case over discrepancies within the printing and distribution of 328 copies of the saroop of Guru Granth Sahib, thought-about by Sikhs to be the residing guru.
Political analysts say Mr Mann is enjoying with fireplace.
“There isn’t a want for the federal government to enter this prohibited space,” Jagroop Singh Sekhon, a former professor of political science at Guru Nanak Dev College in Amritsar, informed ThePrint.
“The federal government is making an attempt to shift the general public’s focus to spiritual points as a result of I really feel it hasn’t achieved a lot when it comes to efficiency. The prime minister should face the music on this situation,” Sekhon mentioned.
“The resignation of an MLA can be a political transfer. The issue is that individuals who ought to be restricted to politics are getting into faith, and individuals who ought to be restricted to faith are getting into politics,” he added.
Some say the transfer might spiral uncontrolled.
“Historical past clearly reveals that political interference in non secular issues is at all times unhealthy information for these in energy. Even a small mistake by the police can snowball into one thing large,” mentioned Manjit Singh, a former professor of sociology at Panjab College in Chandigarh.
In a video message on his Fb web page from Rasokana Shri Nav Kanwar Raja Gurudwara in Banga, Sukhhi mentioned he and plenty of others are devotees of the ‘Raja Sahib’ and are resigning as the federal government’s actions have humiliated the temple.
“I’ll attempt to make the prime minister and AAP officers perceive that what occurred is just not proper,” he mentioned.
Akal Takht jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargazi on Thursday known as the federal government’s transfer “hasty” and added that it was disrespectful to name Guru Granth Sahib “unauthorized” and “recovered”.
“For police and authorities officers to enter gurdwaras and intrude in non secular issues to this extent by checking gurdwara accounts is not going to finish properly,” mentioned Dr. Kanwalpreet Kaur of the Division of Political Science at DAV College in Chandigarh’s Sector 10.
“There will probably be 1000’s of saroops of Guru Granth Sahib adorning non secular locations and other people’s properties in Punjab. Will the SIT enter all these locations and verify the paperwork? It is going to create an enormous uproar and any political advantages that Mr. Mann is making an attempt to safe is not going to solely be negated but additionally go towards him,” she added.
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political energy play
The newest controversy started on December 7, 2025, when the federal government lodged a police criticism over alleged discrepancies within the printing and distribution of Guru Granth Sahib’s 328 Saroop. Officers of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the group that operates and manages Sikhism’s historic gurdwaras and printed supplies of the Guru Granth Sahib, have been named within the case.
A Particular Investigation Group (SIT) has been arrange to make sure that the ‘lacking Saroop’ doesn’t fall into the incorrect arms.
SGPC claims that no saroop was misplaced.
“The saroop has been printed and handed over to the orderer,” SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami mentioned at a press convention final week.
“This discrepancy is said to the truth that the related workers of the printing press pocketed the gross sales proceeds as an alternative of depositing them within the SGPC account. All these workers have been both fired or retired, together with the staff who have been supposed to make sure transparency within the course of. Among the embezzled cash was recovered,” he added.
Dhami accused Mann of interfering in non secular issues to politically goal the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which is believed to manage the SGPC. Mann dismissed the SGPC’s claims, saying the federal government had the fitting to analyze the case and take it to its logical conclusion.
“There isn’t a doubt that the Prime Minister, who has taken a private curiosity within the five-year-old controversy, has political motives. The problem of the so-called lacking Saroops has been revived because the Akalis could emerge as candidates for the federal government in subsequent yr’s meeting elections,” mentioned Dr Kanwalpreet Kaur.
The Akalis, who’ve been out of energy for a decade in Punjab, are exhibiting indicators of revival, boosted by the outcomes of the Tarun Taran and Block Samiti Zilla Parishad polls.
Harjeshwar Singh, professor of historical past at Chandigarh’s SGGS College, mentioned Mann plans to maintain Akali Dal’s Sukhbir Badal on the defensive in order to not achieve credibility amongst Sikh voters. “AAP is eyeing Akali votes and management,” he mentioned.
There is a cause for that. In contrast to the 2022 meeting polls, the place AAP secured each Hindu and Sikh votes, the political panorama has modified. Though the BJP has strengthened its maintain in some city areas after severing ties with the Akalis, its power in rural areas stays restricted.
Citing the Akal Takht’s ethical and spiritual authority, Jathedar Gargazi summoned Mann on Thursday to clarify his “anti-Sikh” actions.
He mentioned Mann “admitted” that he had restricted information of Sikh codes of conduct and traditions and promised to be extra cautious when talking about Sikhism sooner or later.
Gargazi mentioned the 5 Singh Sahibans (seniors) will make a last choice at their subsequent assembly after listening to Mann’s clarification.
Though Mann acknowledges the prevalence of Akal Takht, he continues to assault the SGPC. Addressing a rally in Majitha on Sunday, he mentioned the SGPC chief ought to resign and overtly work as an Akali Dal supporter as an alternative of utilizing Sikh organizations as an extension of the group.
Specialists mentioned Mr Mann was turning into more and more remoted.
“Mr. Mann has misplaced credibility as a critical politician, primarily due to the way in which he speaks. Secondly, he has made too many enemies and is totally remoted politically. He is aware of the dangers of interfering with faith, however he does it for his personal survival,” Sekhon mentioned.
“However he does not understand that the general public is least involved about this situation,” he added.
(Edited by Sague Kitty)
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