A delegation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Friday met Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav and demanded the registration of an FIR against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over a viral video that it alleged had hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.
The SGPC submitted a written complaint seeking legal action against the Chief Minister under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other applicable laws. The delegation said the demand was in line with resolutions unanimously passed earlier by both the SGPC Executive Committee and its General House.
The delegation was led by SGPC junior vice-president Baldev Singh Kalyan and included general secretary Sher Singh Mand, chief secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan, interim committee member Mangwinder Singh Khapadkhedi, Surjit Singh Tugalwal, Surjit Singh Kang, Baldev Singh Camppuri, Surjit Singh Garhi, Major Singh and Daljit Singh Bhinder.
According to the SGPC, the viral video allegedly depicts objectionable acts involving photographs of the ten Sikh Gurus and Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, which it claimed had deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community. The delegation urged the Punjab Police to initiate criminal proceedings against the Chief Minister, alleging that the acts shown in the video amounted to insulting Sikh religious beliefs and provoking communal sentiments.
The SGPC representatives further informed the DGP that the matter had earlier been examined on the directions of the officiating Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. They claimed the inquiry found the viral video to be genuine. Following this, the SGPC General House, at its meeting on June 27, unanimously authorised the Executive Committee to pursue legal action against the Chief Minister.
The delegation also alleged that the Chief Minister, along with certain officials, had relied on what it described as a false and fabricated report to suppress the matter. It claimed the report was contrary to the facts and had been prepared to shield those responsible.
Seeking immediate police intervention, the SGPC urged the DGP to register an FIR against Bhagwant Mann under the relevant provisions of the BNS and ensure a fair and impartial investigation. The delegation maintained that the law should be applied equally to all individuals and that matters concerning religious sentiments must be dealt with without discrimination.