AAP protests in Punjab over video row, accuses SAD of fake campaign against Mann

Mohali,UPDATED: Jun 20, 2026 20:40 IST

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday staged protests across Punjab against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), accusing it of circulating a “fake” video of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to defame him.

Party ministers, MLAs, senior leaders and workers held demonstrations at several places across the state, alleging that the SAD was misusing religion, spreading propaganda and hatching political conspiracies to mislead the people of Punjab.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said AAP workers took to the streets across the state to protest against 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,” Cheema said in Mohali.

The protests come amid a controversy surrounding a video purportedly featuring Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The Akal Takht served an edict to Mann on June 15 over the video.

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” involving pictures of the Sikh Gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the 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 has dismissed the video as “propaganda” aimed at defaming him, while opposition parties have demanded his removal from the post of chief minister.

Addressing protesters on Saturday, Cheema said Punjab had witnessed “unprecedented” development under Mann’s leadership.

“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.

Cheema claimed that the “historic” development in Punjab had unsettled opposition parties.

“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 alleged.

The minister said AAP would expose the alleged conspiracy and send a strong message that politics based on lies and deception would 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 before marching towards a nearby private hotel, where they burned effigies of the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal).

Urmar MLA Jasvir Singh Raja Gill alleged that manipulated videos were being circulated to damage the chief minister’s image and mislead the people of Punjab.

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