Ludhiana, 17 June (H.S.): Akali Dal ‘Waris Punjab De’ on Tuesday staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Ludhiana, demanding the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the controversial viral video case. The party workers also burnt an effigy of the Chief Minister and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Punjab Governor through the District Revenue Officer, as the Deputy Commissioner was not present.

The protest was part of a statewide agitation launched by the party following the directive issued by Shri Akal Takht Sahib in connection with the matter. Senior leaders Rajiv Kumar Lovely, Jathedar Jaswant Singh Cheema and Sandeep Singh Rupalon led the protest and raised slogans against the Chief Minister.

Addressing the gathering, the leaders alleged that the issue was extremely serious as it involved the religious sentiments of the Sikh community, public trust and constitutional accountability. They said a controversial viral video allegedly linked to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had hurt the sentiments of Sikhs due to alleged disrespectful conduct towards religious symbols associated with Sikh Gurus and revered Sikh personalities.

The leaders said that when Shri Akal Takht Sahib summoned the Chief Minister over the matter, Mann had reportedly claimed that the video was fake and created with the help of Artificial Intelligence. However, they claimed that forensic examinations conducted under the directions of Shri Akal Takht Sahib found no evidence of editing, tampering, deepfake technology or AI-based manipulation in the video.

They further said that after the forensic findings, Shri Akal Takht Sahib issued a directive asking Sikhs not to maintain social relations with Bhagwant Mann. The party leaders stated that the matter was not limited to the video alone, but also raised questions over the statements made by the Chief Minister before the people of Punjab and the Sikh community.

The protesters demanded that an FIR be registered against Bhagwant Mann under relevant legal provisions related to sacrilege and hurting religious sentiments. They also urged the Governor to ensure an independent and impartial investigation under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court within a fixed timeframe.

The leaders said Mann should resign on moral grounds so that the investigation is not influenced in any manner. They also demanded that the investigation report be made public. District executive committee members Kulwinder Singh Chandi, Ajit Singh Ball, Harbhajan Singh Iyali and Women’s Wing National General Secretary Sazia Parveen were also present during the protest.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH