Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) suffered a setback Sunday when its MLA from Banga, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, resigned from his cabinet-rank place and as chairman of the Punjab State Warehousing Company, in protest towards the federal government’s declare that it had “recovered 139 unauthorised” Guru Granth Sahib from a gurdwara in his constituency.

The transfer comes amid a raging controversy sparked by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s announcement on the Maghi Mela in Muktsar Wednesday that the gurdwara in Banga was housing 169 Guru Granth Sahib, 139 of which he claimed had been “unauthorised”. Mann projected their “restoration” as an achievement of his authorities within the allegedly lacking 328 Guru Granth Sahib saroops (copies) case.

The gurdwara’s managing committee, at a press briefing Thursday, vehemently protested the federal government’s transfer, claiming that the Guru Granth Sahib proven as “recovered” weren’t from the lacking 328 saroops.

“What authority does the chief minister have in questioning us the place the saroops within the gurudwara have come from?” stated Amrik Singh, a member of the gurudwara managing committee. He added that he was an energetic supporter of the AAP within the space and had determined to surrender on the celebration.

The resignation has additional strained the connection between Mann and the Akal Takht, already fragile for the reason that authorities revived a five-year-old controversy and registered a police case over alleged discrepancies within the printing and distribution of 328 saroops of the Guru Granth Sahib, which the Sikhs think about a dwelling guru.

Political analysts say Mann is enjoying with hearth.

“The federal government has no enterprise moving into this prohibited space,” Jagrup Singh Sekhon, former professor within the division of political science at Guru Nanak Dev College in Amritsar, advised ThePrint.

“The federal government is attempting to shift the main target of the individuals to a spiritual concern as a result of it feels that it doesn’t have a lot to point out when it comes to efficiency. The chief minister must face the music over this,” stated Sekhon.

“The MLA’s resignation, too, is a political transfer. The issue is that those that ought to be limiting themselves to politics are moving into faith and those that ought to be limiting themselves to faith are moving into politics,” he added.

Others stated the transfer might spiral uncontrolled.

“Historical past has clearly proven that political interference in non secular issues is all the time dangerous information for these in energy. Even a small mistake by the police can snowball into an enormous factor,” stated Manjit Singh, a former professor within the division of sociology at Panjab College, Chandigarh.

In a video message on his Fb web page from the Rasokhana Shri Nabh Kanwal Raja gurdwara in Banga, Sukhi stated he was resigning as he and plenty of others had been followers of “Raja Sahib” and the federal government’s motion had humiliated the shrine.

“I’ll attempt to make the chief minister and others within the AAP perceive that what has occurred isn’t appropriate,” he stated.

Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, the jathedar of the Akal Takht, on Thursday known as the federal government’s transfer “hasty” and added that it was disrespectful to check with Guru Granth Sahib as “unauthorised” and “recovered”.

“Meddling in non secular affairs to this extent, involving the police, authorities officers coming into gurudwaras, checking gurudwara accounts, isn’t going to finish nicely,” stated Dr Kanwalpreet Kaur of the division of political science at DAV School, Sector 10, Chandigarh.

“There could be 1000’s of Guru Granth Sahib saroops adorning non secular locations, personal properties in Punjab. Will the SIT enter all these locations and verify papers? It can trigger a furore, and no matter political profit that Mann intends to safe won’t solely be negated however go towards him,” she added.

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Political energy play 

The newest controversy started when the federal government registered a police case on 7 December 2025 over alleged discrepancies in printing and distribution of 328 saroops of the Guru Granth Sahib. Staff of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the physique that runs and manages Sikh historic gurdwaras and prints the Guru Granth Sahib, had been named within the case.

A Particular Investigative Crew (SIT) was set as much as find the “lacking saroops” to make sure they weren’t within the fallacious palms.

The SGPC maintains that no saroops are lacking.

“The saroops had been printed and handed over to those that had ordered them,” SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami advised a press convention final week.

“The discrepancies associated to the involved workers within the printing press pocketing the cash from the sale, as a substitute of depositing it into the account of the SGPC. All these workers, together with those that had been supposed to make sure transparency within the course of, had been dismissed from service or resigned. Some a part of the misappropriated cash was recovered,” he added.

Dhami has accused Mann of meddling in non secular affairs to politically goal the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which is seen as controlling the SGPC. Mann dismissed SGPC’s claims, saying that his authorities had the fitting to analyze the case and take it to its logical conclusion.

“There isn’t any doubt that the chief minister taking private curiosity in a five-year-old controversy has political intentions. The matter of the so-called lacking saroops has been revived as a result of plainly the Akalis may emerge as contenders for energy within the meeting elections subsequent 12 months,” stated Dr Kanwalpreet Kaur.

The Akalis, out of energy in Punjab for 10 years, are displaying indicators of revival, inspired by the results of the Tarn Taran bypoll and the block samiti and zila parishad polls.

Professor Harjeshwar Singh of the division of historical past at SGGS School in Chandigarh stated Mann intends to maintain Akali Dal’s Sukhbir Badal on the defensive to make sure that he doesn’t acquire credibility amongst Sikh voters. “The AAP is eying Akali votes and leaders,” he stated.

There’s a purpose for that. In contrast to the 2022 Meeting polls, by which the AAP secured each Hindu and Sikh votes, the political state of affairs has modified. The BJP, after breaking its ties with the Akalis, has consolidated its place in a number of city areas, although its maintain in rural areas stays restricted.

Invoking the ethical and spiritual authority of the Akal Takht, jathedar Gargajj summoned Mann to clarify his “anti-Sikh” conduct Thursday.

He introduced that Mann had “admitted” that he had restricted information in regards to the Sikh code of conduct and traditions, and had assured them he could be extra cautious sooner or later when talking in regards to the Sikh faith.

Gargajj stated the 5 Singh sahiban (excessive monks) will take a closing choice on Mann’s rationalization at their subsequent assembly.

Mann has acknowledged the supremacy of the Akal Takht, however continues to assault the SGPC. Addressing a gathering in Majitha Sunday, he stated the SGPC chief ought to resign and overtly work as an Akali Dal supporter as a substitute of utilizing the Sikh physique as an extension of the Akali Dal.

Specialists stated Mann was turning into more and more remoted.

“Mann has misplaced credibility as a severe politician primarily due to the style by which he speaks. Secondly, he has made so many enemies that he’s fully remoted politically. He is aware of the hazards of meddling in faith, however he’s doing so for his personal survival,” stated Sekhon.

“However he doesn’t realise that the frequent persons are least bothered about this concern,” he added.

(Edited by Sugita Katyal)

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