NEW DELHI: Workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged protests across Punjab on Saturday, accusing the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of attempting to defame chief minister Bhagwant Mann by circulating what the party described as a fabricated video, with demonstrations held in multiple districts to denounce what AAP called a politically motivated campaign.The protests were led by party ministers, legislators, senior leaders and workers, who accused the SAD of spreading misinformation, misusing religion and seeking to mislead the public through what they termed a coordinated effort to damage Mann’s reputation.AAP shared the snaps from the protest on its X account accusing the state opposition of misusing religion to target CM Bhagwant Mann and the party. It wrote, “The entire Punjab is on the streets against the Akali Dal, Badal, and BJP who are misusing religion! The Aam Aadmi Party and the common people staged strong protest demonstrations across Punjab against the Akali Dal, Badal, and BJP who are misusing religion for political interests.“It concluded its statement by adding, “Those who tamper with Punjab’s peace, harmony, and brotherhood will not be spared.”Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the demonstrations were organised in response to what he described as the SAD’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.Cheema alleged that the opposition party had resorted to “cheap politics” because it was unable to accept the state’s progress under the AAP government.“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.He added that the ruling party would continue to challenge what it described as attempts to disrupt social harmony and political stability in the state.“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 before marching towards a nearby private hotel, where they burned effigies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal).Urmar MLA Jasvir Singh Raja Gill accused opponents of circulating manipulated videos to mislead the public and undermine the chief minister’s standing.The controversy centres on a video purportedly featuring Mann that has triggered a political and religious row in Punjab.Earlier this week, the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of Sikhs, declared Mann ‘Guru Dokhi’ (anti-Guru) and ‘Khalsa Panth virodhi’ (anti-Khalsa Panth) over the video. The declaration came after the chief minister was served an edict by the Akal Takht on 15 June.In January, Mann had been summoned by the Sikh body over allegations that he made remarks about ‘Guru ki Golak’ (gurdwara donation box) and engaged in “objectionable activities” involving images of Sikh Gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the video.Mann has rejected the allegations, dismissing the clip as “propaganda” designed to malign him. Opposition parties, however, have demanded his removal from office over the controversy.Defending the government’s record, Cheema said Punjab had witnessed “unprecedented” development under Mann’s leadership, citing government recruitment drives, infrastructure projects, sports facilities and the provision of 300 units of free electricity per household each month. He argued that these achievements had unsettled opposition parties and prompted efforts to tarnish the chief minister’s image.
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