Amritsar (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is expected to appear before the Akal Takht secretariat at 11 am today following accusations that certain comments made by him hurt Sikh religious sentiments. Mann arrived in the holy city on Wednesday in anticipation of the summons issued by Sikh clergy.
Sources within the Akal Takht secretariat said preparations were carried out under the guidance of officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj. An official noted that although the secretariat usually begins functioning at 9.30 am, additional arrangements were made in view of the Chief Minister’s visit, including the presence of designated staff to manage the proceedings.
The appearance was earlier proposed for the morning hours but was later shifted to the afternoon to accommodate the Chief Minister’s scheduled participation in President Droupadi Murmu’s programme at Guru Nanak Dev University. However, Mann later clarified that he had opted out of all other engagements for the day and had communicated this decision to the President’s office, asserting that he intended to comply fully with the Akal Takht’s directive.
According to people familiar with the matter, the Chief Minister is likely to approach the secretariat barefoot as a gesture of humility. It is also understood that he has prepared a detailed written response addressing the allegations of violating Sikh norms. The interaction will not be open to public broadcast.
There are indications that the officiating Jathedar may limit the proceedings to accepting the written explanation, after which a decision on the matter could be taken at a later stage. The episode has generated considerable interest across Punjab, given the Akal Takht’s central role in matters concerning Sikh religious discipline and authority.
Observers say the outcome of today’s appearance may carry both religious and political significance, as it involves a sitting Chief Minister responding to questions raised by the highest temporal seat of Sikhism.
Security Tightened Ahead of CM Mann’s Visit to Shri Akal Takht Secretariat
Amritsar: Extensive security and administrative arrangements were put in place on Thursday ahead of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s appearance at the Shri Akal Takht Secretariat. Alongside the district police administration, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) also stepped up preparations to ensure smooth proceedings.
Sources said multiple task force teams were deployed in and around the Akal Takht complex to manage crowd movement and maintain law and order. Entry and exit points were closely monitored, while coordination between SGPC volunteers and police personnel was intensified throughout the area.
Officials indicated that the arrangements were made to prevent any untoward incident and to facilitate the Chief Minister’s visit in an orderly manner. The security deployment was precautionary, keeping in view the sensitivity of the occasion and the significance of the religious site.
The situation remained calm as authorities maintained a tight vigil, with senior officials overseeing the arrangements on the ground.
