Punjab protests: AAP cadres allege SAD smear campaign against CM Bhagwant Mann

Protests erupted across Punjab on Saturday as the Aam Aadmi Party accused the Shiromani Akali Dal and its allies of circulating a doctored video aimed at discrediting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The demonstrations, staged in several districts, underline a widening political and religious row that party leaders warn could unsettle public order if it escalates.

Party ministers, legislators and grassroots activists led rallies and street demonstrations, accusing their opponents of deliberately manipulating religious sentiment to damage the chief minister’s reputation. AAP released images from the protests on social media, portraying widespread public anger at what it called a calculated smear campaign.

The controversy accelerated this week after the Sikh religious authority Akal Takht issued an edict that branded Mann as hostile to Sikh institutions following a video clip that has circulated online. The Akal Takht’s directive, served on 15 June, followed earlier summons in January over alleged remarks and imagery involving Sikh symbols.

Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema described the rallies as a response to what he termed the opposition’s “anti-Panth” and “anti-Punjab” activities, saying AAP workers turned out across the state to repel a campaign they see as both politically motivated and divisive. In Mohali he accused the Shiromani Akali Dal of launching “cheap politics” because it resists the state government’s recent programs and electoral gains.

• Who’s involved: Aam Aadmi Party (ruling), Shiromani Akali Dal (opposition), Bharatiya Janata Party named by protesters, and the Akal Takht (religious authority).
• Core allegation: AAP claims a fabricated video was circulated to malign CM Bhagwant Mann and to weaponize religion for political ends.
• Religious response: Akal Takht issued an edict declaring Mann opposed to Khalsa institutions after the clip surfaced; the Sikh body had summoned him earlier this year.
• Public actions: Protests and effigy burnings took place in several towns; AAP staged coordinated demonstrations statewide on Saturday.

In Hoshiarpur, demonstrators marched from the party office and burned effigies of the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), while local AAP legislators accused rival parties of distributing manipulated footage to mislead voters.

Mann has rejected the accusations, calling the footage propaganda meant to harm his image, but opposition figures have pressed for his removal from office. The dispute has already spilled into the religious sphere, with the Akal Takht’s declaration amplifying the controversy and raising tensions between political and clerical authorities.

The stakes are tangible: leaders on both sides warn that continued polarization could erode Punjab’s social harmony and distract from governance priorities. Cheema highlighted recent government measures — recruitment drives, infrastructure projects, expanded sports facilities and a monthly electricity subsidy of 300 units per household — as evidence of the state’s progress, arguing those achievements are a target for opponents seeking to change the political narrative.

Legal and political fallout remain uncertain. The Akal Takht’s action and the opposition’s calls for Mann’s removal have increased pressure on provincial institutions to act, while AAP’s mass mobilization signals a determination to contest any attempt to delegitimize the government.

For now, Punjab faces a volatile mix of political contestation and religious sensitivity: whether cooler heads prevail will depend on how quickly parties de-escalate rhetoric and whether independent verification clarifies the origins and authenticity of the disputed video.