Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann (PTI file photo)
NEW DELHI: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday rejected allegations of “sacrilegious conduct” levelled against him by political opponents. He termed the accusations as part of a “dirty politics” campaign aimed at tarnishing his image.Dismissing the accusations of “disrespecting Sikh Gurus”, Mann said the controversy was being used as a political tool to target him. “When they have nothing else to control, they use religion to defame me,” he said.In a video message posted on X, Mann maintained that the purported video allegedly showing the desecration of Sikh Guru’s photos was fake and accused opposition parties of trying to defame him.He alleged a nexus between the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, claiming they were using religion as a political weapon against him.”For the past few days, my fake videos were released amid dirty politics. When they don’t find another way, they try to defame me using religion. Neither my shape nor my size matches the person in the video, nor my way of standing. They are calling me guilty for making the video viral. However, the people saw the video and received several calls stating that the video is false. We also got it tested in the forensic labs,” Mann said. The Punjab chief minister said it was for the public to decide whose version was credible and accused his rivals of resorting to “smear tactics.””The BJP has attacked the owners of the forensic labs. BJP, Congress and Akali (Dal) have formed a collusion in Punjab, thinking that the video issue is going against them after they issued a fake video, and people are commenting that you are doing dirty politics. By the fear of FIR and torture, they are making the lab owners say that ‘we took the money for a fake report’. The lab we got it tested was fake, and the lab they got it examined is real? People know who is fake and who is real. I leave this decision to the people. They are not left to show their faces in Punjab; now, they have resorted to religion to defame Bhagwant Mann. I will keep working this way. I will keep my pace for electricity, houses, hospitals and jobs the same,” Mann added.His remarks came amid a growing political row over the viral video and the subsequent police investigation into an alleged fake forensic report linked to the case.His statement also came after Gurgaon police registered an FIR in the case.Earlier to this, Gurugram Police began investigating over an alleged Rs 10 lakh-for-report deal linked to a viral video controversy.The BJP accused the AAP leader of trying to suppress allegations of “sacrilegious conduct” and demanded action against him. The saffron party’s attack came days after the Akal Takht took action against Mann over a video that allegedly showed “disrespecting the Sikh Gurus”.The BJP also questioned AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s silence on the issue. Leading the attack, Delhi minister and BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, “…Bhagwant Mann remained silent, Arvind Kejriwal also remained silent, and today the arrests and case filed against those who provided this forensic report were made…The way such a grave sin has been committed, and the attempt to suppress it with the help of money and the police, has been challenged. Sikh authorities, the dignity of Sikhs, and the sentiments of Sikhs have been challenged…When will a case be filed against Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann? When will Bhagwant Mann be arrested in this case? …”Meanwhile, Gurugram ACP Crime Naveen Sharma said police had detained two people in the case. “The Gurgaon Police received a complaint. We have taken two individuals into custody; an interrogation is currently under way… They stated that they were given Rs 10 lakh for this task, and indicated that certain officials from the neighbouring state were also involved,” he said.The controversy centres on a viral video that critics claim shows Mann disrespecting Sikh religious imagery. The Punjab chief minister has denied the allegation, saying the person in the video is not him.”It is not me in the viral video, but an actor who looks like me. 1,191 frames were examined during the forensic analysis; not a single frame matches me. A well-planned conspiracy was hatched to defame me,” Mann had said in a video message on June 19. Go to Source
