Chandigarh: Congress MLA and former Punjab minister Pargat Singh has intensified his criticism of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann following claims that a forensic examination found a controversial video involving the Chief Minister to be genuine.
In a statement posted on social media, Pargat Singh alleged that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has repeatedly failed to uphold political decorum. Referring to an earlier controversy in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Singh claimed that the Congress opposition had previously raised objections alleging that the Chief Minister had entered the House after consuming alcohol. According to Singh, instead of ordering an investigation into those allegations, the matter remained unresolved.
The Congress leader further pointed to the recent controversy surrounding videos discussed before Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Pargat Singh stated that it was the Chief Minister himself who had reportedly appealed to the Jathedar Sahiban for a forensic investigation into the authenticity of the videos. However, he alleged that now, after claims that the forensic report has declared the video genuine, the Chief Minister is distancing himself from his earlier position.
“Bhagwant Mann has never been seen paying attention to decorum,” Pargat Singh wrote in his social media post, adding that the Chief Minister should stand by the findings of an investigation that he had himself sought.
The controversy has added another dimension to the ongoing debate between the Punjab government and religious institutions over the issue. Political observers note that the matter has generated significant public discussion in Punjab, with supporters and critics of the government expressing differing views on the issue.
The Punjab government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann have previously denied allegations related to the controversy. The Chief Minister has maintained that certain accusations against him are politically motivated and has questioned the motives behind some of the claims.
As the debate continues, opposition parties are likely to intensify pressure on the government, while the ruling Aam Aadmi Party is expected to defend its position. The controversy remains politically significant as it touches upon issues of accountability, public conduct, and the relationship between political leadership and religious institutions in Punjab.