Mohali/Hoshiarpur (PB), Jun 20 (PTI) The ruling Aam Aadmi Party workers on Saturday hit the streets across Punjab to denounce the Shiromani Akali Dal for circulating a “fake” video of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to defame him.
The party ministers, MLAs, senior leaders, and workers held demonstrations at several places, accusing the SAD of misusing religion, spreading propaganda and hatching political conspiracies to mislead the people of Punjab.
Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the AAP held protests across Punjab against the Shiromani Akali Dal’s “anti-Panth” and “anti-Punjab” activities.
“Today, Aam Aadmi Party ‘karyakartas’ come out on the streets not only in Mohali but across Punjab to register their protest against such forces. The people of Punjab are fully aware of these conspiracies and will never allow those who have repeatedly harmed the interests of the state,” he said in Mohali.
At the centre of the row is a video purportedly featuring Mann, who was served an edict by the Akal Takht on June 15 over it.
In January, Mann was summoned by the Akal Takht for allegedly making comments on ‘Guru ki Golak’ (gurdwara donation box) and indulging in “objectionable activities” with the pictures of the Sikh Gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the said video clip.
On Monday, the supreme temporal body for Sikhs declared Mann ‘Guru Dokhi’ (anti-Guru) and ‘Khalsa Panth virodhi’ (anti-Khalsa Panth) over the video.
Mann dismissed the video as “propaganda” aimed at defaming him, while the opposition parties have been demanding his sacking from the post.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Cheema said that Punjab has witnessed “unprecedented” development under Mann.
“Our government has provided government jobs to the youth of Punjab in a transparent manner. Sports grounds are being developed in villages across the state to channel the energy of young people in a positive direction.
“Construction and repair work of around 45,000 kilometres of roads is underway. Children studying in government schools are receiving quality, world-class education, while every household is benefiting from 300 units of free electricity every month,” he said.
The “historic” development has left opposition parties unnerved, Cheema said.
“Unable to digest rapid progress taking place in Punjab, the Shiromani Akali Dal has now resorted to cheap politics. It has made a vile attempt to create and circulate a fabricated and fake video on social media to tarnish the clean image of our Chief Minister,” he said.
The AAP leader said the party will expose the SAD’s conspiracy and send a strong message that politics based on lies and deception will not be tolerated.
“AAP workers across Punjab are united in opposing this malicious campaign. We will not allow any conspiracy aimed at disturbing Punjab’s peace, progress and social harmony to succeed,” he added.
In Hoshiarpur, protesters gathered outside the party office in Model Town and later marched towards a nearby private hotel, where they burned effigies of the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal).
Speaking to reporters, Urmar MLA Jasvir Singh Raja Gill alleged that manipulated videos were being circulated to harm the chief minister’s image and mislead the people of Punjab. PTI CHS COR VN VN
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