Listen To This Post

BJP to Gherao Mann’s Residence on Jan 16

Chandigarh: Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Friday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, demanding that he either resign from office or immediately order a forensic investigation into a video circulating on social media alleging religious sacrilege involving him. Jakhar said the Chief Minister’s failure to have the footage examined, despite the passage of considerable time, raises serious questions. “If the police can conduct a forensic examination of a video within a day in one case, why is the same urgency missing when it comes to the Chief Minister?” he asked, alleging that the delay itself suggests that “something is fishy.”

Atishi Video Cleared in a Day, Questions BJP

Referring to the clarification issued by former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, Jakhar said her statement amounted to an admission of guilt. Yet, the Punjab Police conducted a forensic examination of her video within a day and issued a clean chit.

“The speed with which the Jalandhar Police examined Atishi’s video is missing in the case of the video related to the Punjab Chief Minister. Does this not expose the AAP mindset?” Jakhar asked.

He said that if a forensic probe could be completed within 24 hours in Atishi’s case, there is no justification for not doing the same in the Chief Minister’s case.

‘No Moral Right to Continue’

Jakhar challenged Mann to order an immediate forensic examination of the video allegedly involving sacrilege and to prove his innocence beyond a reasonable doubt.
“If the Chief Minister does not dare to get the video examined, then he has no moral right to continue in office,” the BJP leader said.

He further pointed out that two other audio-video clips have been circulating for a long time, but the government has failed to get them investigated.

Patiala SSP Audio Also Cited

Jakhar also referred to an alleged audio clip involving the Patiala SSP, in which the officer is purportedly heard planning to rig Zila Parishad elections at the behest of the ruling party. He said that despite directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the government has not responded to the status of the investigation.

“The government should immediately get both the Patiala SSP audio and the video related to the Chief Minister examined by a forensic laboratory and place the truth before the people,” he said, adding that the continued inaction suggests that the clips could be genuine.

‘Double Standards on Sikh Sentiments’

Jakhar accused the AAP of hypocrisy, saying that while the Punjab government convened a special Assembly session in honour of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, a senior AAP leader allegedly used derogatory language during Assembly proceedings.

He said that Atishi herself admitted to using the word “dogs” as a reference and questioned the context in which it was used. “Considering whose honour was being discussed in the House at the time, this exposes the low-level mindset of AAP leaders,” he alleged.

BJP to Gherao CM’s Residence

Announcing an escalation of protests, Jakhar said the Bharatiya Janata Party will gherao the Chief Minister’s residence in Chandigarh on January 16 to seek answers on what he termed the deteriorating law and order situation, Punjab emerging as a hub of drugs, and rising corruption in the state. “The AAP government has completely failed. There is virtually no government left in Punjab,” Jakhar said, adding that the BJP would intensify its agitation in the coming days.