A fresh controversy erupted on Saturday at Punjab’s renowned Golden Temple when several visiting pilgrims were instructed to remove their identity cards bearing the photograph of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. This directive was issued before the pilgrims could enter the temple complex.
According to reports, these pilgrims had arrived from various districts of Punjab early in the morning to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple under the state government’s ‘Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage Scheme’ (Mukhyamantri Tirath Yatra Yojana). They were wearing government-issued identity cards featuring the Chief Minister’s photograph. Some individuals present outside the temple, as well as members of the *Sangat* (congregation of devotees), raised strong objections to these ID cards. **Root cause of the controversy**
This incident is being viewed in the context of the ongoing tension between the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Chief Minister. Notably, on June 15, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, the Acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht, had declared Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann a “*Guru-drohi*” (one who has betrayed the Guru) following a meeting of five Sikh religious leaders. This action was taken after a controversial video surfaced. However, Chief Minister Mann and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dismissed the video as completely fake, stating that the person seen in it was not the Chief Minister.
**Reactions from the administration and political parties**
As the matter escalated, SGPC Chief Secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan clarified that the decision did not originate from the administration; rather, it was the *Sangat* present at the site that had raised objections regarding the identity cards of some pilgrims.
Meanwhile, when Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Shashivir Sharma was approached regarding this sensitive issue, he flatly refused to comment.
