‘She never said Guru’: Mann says BJP spreading hate with Atishi’s ‘edited’ video; questions SGPC’s objection to saroops FIR

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday accused the BJP of indulging in “cheap and hate-driven politics” by circulating an edited video of former Delhi chief minister Atishi. He also responded to allegations related to the missing saroops case and talked about his upcoming appearance before the Akal Takht.

Addressing mediapersons in Bathinda after inaugurating a district library worth Rs 9 crores, Mann said, “The BJP edited the video of Atishi’s statement in the Delhi Assembly and added false subtitles. None of Atishi’s statements were ever recorded in the Assembly proceedings; if they had been, the Speaker would have had complete information about them.”

“The BJP is deliberately spreading misinformation and trying to incite hatred in Punjab in the name of religion,” Mann said, adding that a forensic examination had established that Atishi never used the word “Guru”.

“She never said Guru… So, based on that video posted by Kapil Mishra, a person complained in Jalandhar. So the FIR was lodged by the police. The BJP has done sacrilege by additing word Guru in the subtitle… They are experts in this. They have done this in the past as well in other states by changing words or lines. But we will not allow communal harmony to be disturbed in Punjab. We believe in Sarbat da Bhala,” Mann said.

“The Jalandhar police never took out the video clipping from the Delhi Vidhan Sabha… That video was taken out by Delhi cabinet minister Kapil Mishra from the Vidhan Sabha. He later posted it on his social media platforms with subtitles mentioned below. It was an attempt to defame the AAP leader,” he added.

Mann further said the BJP hated Punjab and Punjabis, adding that they would reject the party’s “divisive politics”. “They are going to do this level of cheap politics in the next 8-10 months ahead of the 2027 polls,” he alleged. ‘Vishwa Guru can’t be made on paper’

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “They need to work on the ground. Vishwa Guru can’t be made on paper. They keep mum before US President Donald Trump, who gives one or another statement against India every other day.”

Referring to past decisions of the BJP-led Centre that had met with opposition in Punjab, Mann said, “In the past, they made many anti-Punjab decisions…like a reduction in rights of Punjab in BBMB, a Panjab University notification increasing administrative control of the centre, and the proposed constitutional amendment Bill on Chandigarh. They withdrew many decisions, just as they had done in the case of the three farm laws.”

Mann also alleged political manipulation, saying, “The way they make BJP leaders like Sunil Jakhar, Ravneet Singh Bittu, and Capt Amarinder Singh speak lies is unbelievable.”

Missing saroops case and SAD’s allegations Responding to allegations made by SAD leaders that his Government was attempting to falsely implicate the party’s president, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Mann said, “We are taking action in the case of missing 328 saroops of Guru Sahib. In the SGPC inquiry, names of 16 persons were given, and the police booked them.”

He added, “Now it is being said by the SGPC that the issue was of ‘give and take’ of money, but the question is not of money. The special investigation team was formed to find where the saroops have gone.”

Accusing the Opposition of diversionary tactics, Mann stated that the people arrested in this case were in police custody. “A report on this inquiry will be prepared. They are saying in advance that someone else can also be arrested…it seems that a guilty conscience betrays itself.”

Although he did not name any leader, Mann was responding to statements made by Harsimrat Kaur Badal and others on Saturday, alleging that the AAP Government was trying to falsely implicate the SAD president.

He further remarked, “The SGPC themselves had got many FIRs lodged in the past in many cases, and now they have objection to the missing saroops FIR… They call themselves an elected body. It was elected 14 years ago… The Centre has to conduct its polls… The state has no role in it.”

Akal Takht visit on January 15 Confirming his scheduled appearance before the Akal Takht, Mann said, “I will go as a humble Sikh… Akal Takht is supreme to me,” he said. “I have been called to give my clarification regarding my statements given on ‘Golaks’, and I will give my clarification..not going to give or seek any hisab, but my clarification about the statements that I had given.”