Politics on religious issues is intensifying in Punjab, especially between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). On one hand, SAD workers are putting up boards across the state to publicize Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s decision of social boycott as per the instructions of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Gurdwara management committees are also putting up these boards outside the Gurudwaras under the jurisdiction of SGPC.
On the other hand, AAP workers have also started putting up boards against the Akali Dal. In Faridkot, a board campaigning against Bhagwant Mann was reportedly vandalized by AAP workers. In Ludhiana, AAP workers put up a board criticizing SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal outside Gurudwara Baba Deep Singh Ji.
**The board mentions the religious mistakes made during the SAD-BJP alliance**
The board highlights the religious mistakes committed during the tenure of the SAD-BJP alliance. These mention those specific issues regarding which Sukhbir Singh Badal had accepted the mistakes of the then government in front of the Akal Takht on December 2, 2024. These include police action against Sikh devotees protesting against sacrilege in 2015, incidents of sacrilege in the same year and the amnesty granted by the Akal Takht to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim – a decision which was withdrawn a few days later.
**Bhagwant Mann also targeted Sukhbir Singh Badal**
Bhagwant Mann has raised questions as to why SGPC is not putting up boards related to Sukhbir Singh Badal outside Gurudwaras, even though Badal had accepted before the Akal Takht the religious mistakes committed during his rule. A board was put up by the Gurudwara management outside Gurdwara Godavari head in Faridkot’s Dhilwan Kalan village, announcing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s decision of social boycott.
**Board against Bhagwant Mann on the orders of SGPC**
It is alleged that AAP workers removed the board and tore it on the spot. The incident was captured in the CCTV footage of the Gurdwara, in which people can be seen removing the board installed outside the Gurdwara Sahib and then tearing it. Acting on SGPC orders, Shiromani Akali Dal workers have put up boards across the state appealing for social boycott of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. There is a possibility of further increase in tension between the two parties on this issue in the coming days.