Chandigarh: Hitting out at chief minister Bhagwant Mann after he was declared “anti-Panthic” and a “betrayer of the Guru” by the Akal Takht, the Punjab Congress on Monday demanded his resignation, describing the development as a highly significant event in the state’s history.Congress MP from Gurdaspur, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, said that the punishment was pronounced by a committee of five Sikh religious authorities (Sahibans). The committee’s decision, he said, was related not only to Punjab but also to the sentiments of the Sikh community living across India and around the world.Randhawa said Mann should respect the supremacy of the Akal Takht, its traditions and the religious sentiments of millions of Sikhs by resigning from the post of chief minister on moral grounds without delay. He also said that Mann should immediately apologise to the Sikh community.He said such a major verdict against a CM was an extremely serious matter.Randhawa further said that the Akal Takht was the highest temporal authority of the Sikh Panth and that it was the duty of every Sikh and public representative in Punjab to respect its traditions, customs and decisions.The appeal by the Akal Takht urging the Sikh congregation to maintain distance from chief minister Mann is a matter of grave concern, he added.Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, while demanding Mann’s resignation following his ex-communication by the Akal Takht on the basis of two controversial videos, said the CM must also break his silence on the matter.“People of Punjab are waiting for your answers over such serious charges,” Warring said while addressing to the CM.“For every Sikh living across the globe, Akal Takht is the supreme temporal authority. Its decisions are binding on everyone. As the acting jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, has declared two controversial videos related to chief minister Mann as authentic, he must resign immediately as a mark of respect for the temporal authority of the Akal Takht and respect for the sensitivities involved,” said the Ludhiana MP.“The issue is quite sensitive. When the chief minister can enact a stringent law against sacrilege, he must set an example that he practises what he preaches. Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion,” he added.
