4 min readAmritsarUpdated: Jan 18, 2026 09:07 PM IST
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann draws thunderous applause at an AAP event in Punjab, underscoring his rising popularity as attention shifts from the party’s central leadership. (Express Archive)
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann Sunday attacked the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami and called him a soldier of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.
“Instead of calling himself a soldier of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, he proudly calls himself a soldier of Sukhbir Singh Badal,” said the CM, addressing a public gathering after laying the foundation stone of 23 new rural link roads in Majitha. “What good can be expected from such a person, who takes pride in serving someone who ruined Punjab with his every move?”
Mann reiterated the supremacy of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and said, “Sri Akal Takht Sahib is above all of us. That is why I did not attend the function of the President of India and chose instead to appear before the Takht.”
He said that unlike his government, the Akalis have repeatedly undermined the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. “Jathedars have been appointed and removed at their whims, dealing a severe blow to the sanctity of these institutions.”
The CM alleged that it was due to the misdeeds of the Akalis and the SGPC that the state government was compelled to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the missing 328 saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. “Our only objective is to trace the missing saroops. We have no intention of interfering in religious institutions,” he said.
Without naming Bikram Singh Majithia, Mann said, “Earlier, this area lived under constant fear. A self-proclaimed ‘jarnail’ of the region used false cases as a weapon against ordinary people. With deep connections in both Congress and Akali governments, he unleashed a reign of terror, and people were afraid to speak.”
The CM said that people have charted a new path by rejecting the alleged politics of intimidation pursued by the Majithia and Badal families. “This very Majitha area was once controlled by people who hosted General Dyer for dinner on the same day as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919. Such acts of betrayal can never be forgotten. The people of Punjab will never forgive those whose hands were stained with the blood of innocent masses.”
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Mann warned that bringing the Akali Dal back to power would mean dragging Punjab back into a dark era. “It will mean the return of ‘Beadbi’ (sacrilege) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, firing on innocent protesters and atrocities against the common man,” he said.
Declaring AAP leader Talbir Singh Gill as the AAP’s candidate from Majitha in the 2027 Assembly elections, the CM said, “The time has come for the people of Majitha to move beyond submitting demand letters and start taking decisions themselves.”
Mann said that special attention is being paid to the welfare of border residents, whom he described as true patriots. “In a major relief to farmers in the border belt, the Central government has given in-principle approval to shift the border fence closer to the International Border,” he said, adding that this would allow unhindered cultivation of thousands of acres currently lying beyond the fencing. He said he had raised the issue with the union Home Minister, pointing out the daily hardships faced by farmers who were forced to cross the fence under BSF escort to reach their own fields along the 532-kilometre India-Pakistan border.
The CM said that the renewal of 23 rural link roads in the Majitha constituency will be carried out at a cost of ₹11.32 crore. “Projects worth ₹11.32 crore have been initiated for the renovation of link roads in several villages of Majitha constituency. Out of this, ₹9.94 crore will be spent on road renovation and ₹1.38 crore on their maintenance over the next five years. These roads were in a deplorable condition, causing immense inconvenience to commuters and farmers transporting their produce to markets,” he said.
Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts.
Core Beats & Specializations
Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions.
National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups.
Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies:
1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht
"Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015.
"YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies.
"As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications.
2. Crime & National Security
"Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison.
"Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border.
"15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions.
3. Political Analysis & Elections
"AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress.
"Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages.
"AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions.
4. Human Interest
"Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction.
"Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo.
Signature Beat
Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect.
X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More
