Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann (File photo)
NEW DELHI: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday reiterated that he is not the person seen in the viral “sacrilege” video and alleged that it was an impostor wearing a mask resembling him .In support of his claim, he said the individual in the footage does not have the distinctive scar that the chief minister has on his neck from a past surgery. He also shared an older video, claiming it showed Jagman Samra — the person who released the footage — holding the same mask inside a car.Speaking at a press conference in Mohali, Mann’s remarks came days after two men were arrested for allegedly fabricating a forensic report to suggest that the individual seen in the video was not the Punjab chief minister.Also Read | Bhagwant Mann video row: Accused received Rs 10 lakh from Punjab officials to fabricate clip, cops say“A fake and fabricated video of mine was circulated, and even religious directives. There is an attempt to defame me on religious grounds because they are unable to compete with me politically. Politically, they have been reduced to zero on the ground,” the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said, referring to the Congress, BJP, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He also appeared to take a swipe at the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs, alleging that “religious directives were issued to derive political benefit”. “Now they have stooped to a level where, almost every day, some order or directive is issued with the intention of tarnishing my religious image,” the chief minister added.Mann also questioned the Akal Takht’s call for his social boycott and asked why no similar action had been taken against SAD leader and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was declared a “tankhaiya” — a Sikh found guilty of religious misconduct.Alleging that the video was deliberately leaked to influence the upcoming assembly elections, Mann announced that he would submit the footage of Jagman Samra to the Akal Takht for scrutiny.Punjab is scheduled to go to the polls in February 2027. AAP swept to power in the state in 2022, dislodging the Congress.
