Punjab CM’s passive stance at Akal Takht may earn him dividend: Sikh experts

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s appearance at the Akal Takht secretariat as a “humble” Sikh, and not as a “CM”, and his “admission” of being ignorant of Sikh “rehat maryada” (tenets) may earn him dividend on political stage ahead, say Sikh intellectuals.

When the CM was summoned by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, it was being viewed as a direct face-off between the two. But it wasn’t. The CM submitted his clarification modestly and without defying the Akal Takht or the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Former professor of political science, Prof Kuldip Singh, observed that the CM refrained from playing political card for appeasement and appeared as a “humble Sikh”.

 “The CM played the ‘trump card’ by admitting he was not well versed with Sikh principles, and that he would refrain from commenting about them in the future. He was in a submissive mode before the Jathedar, contrary to expectations, “if we go by his aggressive statements of exposing the SAD-dominated SGPC for misusing the ‘Golak’,” he said.

Earlier, the CM had “categorically” expressed his “desire” (in a sarcastic tone) to be called to the Akal Takht secretariat which, analysts believed, would end up in “exposing the misuse of the ‘Golak’ for political gains”.

Further, two days prior to his visit, CM Mann “advocated” for live-streaming of his conversation with the Jathedar from the Akal Takht secretariat, followed by a “confrontation over the timing” that was uncalled for.

Prof Harpal Singh, a Sikh scholar and former professor of Sikh National College, Banga, claimed “the way CM Mann was summoned didn’t appear to be the Jathedar’s call but that of his master”.

“The CM’s victory was in his humility during today’s appearance before the Jathedar. He outsmarted the Akali Dal and their ‘appointee’. The way he kept aside the political protocol of receiving the President over Akal Takht’s supremacy, then his wilfull confession of his shortcomings before the Jathedar have given a wider positive message and made his image more acceptable,” he said.

Referring to the CM’s statement from political stage targeting indirectly the Akali Dal, SGPC member Kiranjot Kaur said the Jathedar’s intervention was not justified, and that a wrong precedent was being set by calling up persons not complying with the “sabat surat” condition and Sikh tenets.

“Why did the Jathedar give undue attention and publicity to the CM? He should let it have been a political tussle between AAP and SAD? On January 5, AAP Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, who was not ‘sabat surat’, was also called up for questioning at the Akal Takht,” she said.