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This is an archive article published on October 31, 2015
Bhagwant Mann row: ‘AAP MP should introspect on who is lying’
EVEN AS the issue has turned political, with the opposition parties attacking AAP over MP Bhagwant Mann allegedly turning up drunk at the bhog ceremony of two victims of police firing at Bargaari, Giani Jagtar Singh Jachak, the former head granthi of Sri Harmandar Sahib at Golden Temple, Amritsar, Friday said, “Mann should introspect and […]
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Giani Jagtar Singh Jachak (right) had asked Mann to leave the stage during the bhog ceremony. (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)
EVEN AS the issue has turned political, with the opposition parties attacking AAP over MP Bhagwant Mann allegedly turning up drunk at the bhog ceremony of two victims of police firing at Bargaari, Giani Jagtar Singh Jachak, the former head granthi of Sri Harmandar Sahib at Golden Temple, Amritsar, Friday said, “Mann should introspect and speak the truth himself.”
According to eyewitnesses, Jachak was the first person who discreetly told Mann to leave the stage after sensing the smell of alcohol. Jachak, who joined the preachers’ protest march at Fatehgarh Sahib Friday, said, “I have no political inclination. I am not from SAD or Congress or AAP. I told Mann to leave the stage as I knew that if people came to know about his drunken state, there was a risk that he may have been manhandled. Let him introspect who is lying — us or him.”
“The matter has been blown out of proportion by politicians but attending a religious programme in a drunken state cannot be forgiven. Apart from me, AAP (Punjab) convenor Suchha Singh Chhotepur and Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira were also on the dais. They also complained of a strong smell of alcohol. Had Mann not been drunk, he would not have left the stage after being told just once,” said Jachak.
“It is for Mann to decide what to do now but an apology is better than a bundle of lies. I had even asked Chhotepur why has an AAP MP come here drunk. He expressed helplessness,” said Jachak.
Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira said “Drinking or not drinking is someone’s personal matter but Mann was indeed drunk.”
“I do not want to poke into Mann’s personal life but an MP cannot sit on stage at a religious event in a drunken state. If I blame Mann, few might believe me because I am a politician but Giani Jachak is stating the truth. It is even more ridiculous that now AAP is protecting his lies instead of asking him to apologise,” he said.
Chhotepur also confirmed that Giani Jachak had indeed asked Mann if he was drunk.
“I spoke to Mann immediately and he claimed that he was not drunk at the time. I conveyed his answer to Giani ji,” said Chhotepur.
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