NEW DELHI: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday rejected allegations of “sacrilegious conduct” levelled against him by political opponents. He termed the accusations as part of a “dirty politics” campaign aimed at tarnishing his image.Dismissing the accusations of “disrespecting Sikh Gurus”, Mann said the controversy was being used as a political tool to target him.“When they have nothing else to control, they use religion to defame me,” he said.The Punjab chief minister also lashed out at rival parties, including the BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress, accusing them of exploiting religious sentiments for political purposes.Earlier on Wednesday, Punjab CM Mann found himself at the centre of a fresh political storm after Gurugram Police began investigating an alleged Rs 10 lakh-for-report deal linked to a viral video controversy.The BJP accused the AAP leader of trying to suppress allegations of “sacrilegious conduct” and demanded action against him. The saffron party’s attack came days after the Akal Takht took action against Mann over a video that allegedly showed “disrespecting the Sikh Gurus”.The BJP also questioned AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s silence on the issue. Leading the attack, Delhi minister and BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, “…Bhagwant Mann remained silent, Arvind Kejriwal also remained silent, and today the arrests and case filed against those who provided this forensic report were made…The way such a grave sin has been committed, and the attempt to suppress it with the help of money and the police, has been challenged. Sikh authorities, the dignity of Sikhs, and the sentiments of Sikhs have been challenged...When will a case be filed against Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann? When will Bhagwant Mann be arrested in this case? …”Meanwhile, Gurugram ACP Crime Naveen Sharma said police had detained two people in the case. “The Gurgaon Police received a complaint. We have taken two individuals into custody; an interrogation is currently under way… They stated that they were given Rs 10 lakh for this task, and indicated that certain officials from the neighbouring state were also involved,” he said.The controversy centres on a viral video that critics claim shows Mann disrespecting Sikh religious imagery. The Punjab chief minister has denied the allegation, saying the person in the video is not him.“It is not me in the viral video, but an actor who looks like me. 1,191 frames were examined during the forensic analysis; not a single frame matches me. A well-planned conspiracy was hatched to defame me,” Mann had said in a video message on June 19.
