MUKTSAR – Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday launched a sharp critique against the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) leadership, claiming that the Sikh body is controlled by money rather than religious devotion.
After laying the foundation stone for development projects worth ₹138.82 crore in Muktsar, Mann stated, “If golaks (donation boxes) are removed from gurdwaras—under the control of the SGPC—95 per cent of its members owing allegiance to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will resign.” He subsequently labeled the SGPC a “golak committee.”
Mann directly targeted SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami, accusing the leadership of compromising their integrity for political posts. “These people keep bowing their heads and touching the feet of their party president because of the posts. This is their condition. I speak the truth and this is why they target me,” the CM asserted.
Attack on Opposition: The CM used the platform to criticize the policies of previous governments and specifically targeted key opposition figures:
- Badals & Drugs: Referring to Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s recent remark about the lack of awareness regarding synthetic drugs, Mann quipped, “back then, Majithia himself was called chitta.” He also accused SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal of hypocrisy regarding the sacrilege incidents, claiming he accepted responsibility before the Akal Takht but later denied it at a rally.
- Capt Amarinder Singh: Mann ridiculed the family history of former CM Capt Amarinder Singh, alleging the family has “always sided with those in power – with the Mughals, the British, the Akalis, the Congress and now the BJP.”
Mann concluded by highlighting the achievements of the current state government and ordered the Water Supply and Sanitation Department to display clear boards at upcoming project sites detailing their timelines and completion dates.
Bar Association Calls for Strike: In a separate development, the District Bar Association, Muktsar, called for a two-day work suspension across the state on Monday and Tuesday, after a day-long protest over a case recently registered against an advocate. The Bar is demanding disciplinary action against the SSP and SP (D) in connection with the matter, with the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana also urging the DGP to supervise the complaint