Mohali (Punjab) [India], June 25 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday rejected allegations linked to a purported video showing the desecration of Sikh Guru images, saying the person seen in the video is not him.
He said political opponents are unable to challenge him politically, so they are trying to defame him on religious grounds.
He also added that he respects Sri Akal Takht and claimed that all three major political parties have come together to target him in this controversy.
Addressing the press conference, Punjab CM said, "...They cannot fight with me politically, so they are trying to defame me on religious grounds...I cannot challenge Sri Akal Takht...The person seen in the video is not me...All three political parties have united to defame me."
CM Mann hit out at the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), questioning why boycott posters were not issued against other leaders.
Mann also claimed that those involved in creating the video and related masks will be exposed, adding that he has evidence linked to a key accused.
"I want to ask the SGPC. They put up billboards calling for a boycott of Bhagwant Mann. Why weren't such billboards put up for Sukhbir Badal? Why weren't billboards displayed against him? I cannot challenge the Sri Akal Takht; I do not have the stature to do so. I stated in the video itself, that isn't me; that person is not me. Then they went after the lab technicians; the Congress, which fired shells at the Sri Akal Takht, joined hands with the opposition. I am going to Barnala today; I am going among the people, and I will continue to do so. Look at this video, see how a fake video was fabricated," he added.
"Where did you get the mask made?... We have the pic and video of Jagman Samra, who is the main blackmailer carrying the mask...This person has also made the mask of Arvind Kejriwal," Punjab CM further added.
A day earlier, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member and advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka demanded strict action in connection with the alleged viral video, saying that an "FIR should be registered."
Sialka said the alleged act could trigger unrest in the state and said such people should not be spared.
He further argued that the Governor, as constitutional head, has the authority to intervene, and suggested that the Constitution should be amended if required to address the situation.