Punjab Newsline | Mohali
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday strongly refuted claims surrounding a controversial viral video, asserting that the person seen in the footage is not him and alleging that political opponents are attempting to tarnish his image through fabricated content.
Addressing a press conference in Mohali, Mann claimed that the individual in the video was wearing a mask designed to resemble him. He pointed to several alleged inconsistencies in the footage, including the absence of a distinctive mark on his neck and the use of sunglasses to conceal facial features.
“The person in the video is not me. They forgot to recreate the mark on my neck. The sunglasses were used because eyes cannot be altered with a mask,” Mann said.
The Chief Minister alleged that the controversy was part of a larger campaign to defame him politically and religiously. He highlighted several initiatives undertaken by his government, including legislation against sacrilege, tax exemptions for vehicles carrying religious palanquins, a special Assembly session in Anandpur Sahib, and granting holy city status to three towns in Punjab.
Mann accused multiple political parties of joining forces against him and questioned why religious bodies had not taken a similar stance against other leaders. Referring to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, he said its leadership had openly aligned with opposition figures and alleged that attempts were being made to politically isolate him.
He reiterated that he would appear before the Akal Takht if summoned and said he had previously requested that proceedings involving him be made public.
Claims Video Features a Masked Lookalike
Mann further claimed that the man in the viral footage appeared taller than him and that forensic laboratories examining the video had faced pressure. Displaying videos and screenshots during the press conference, he argued that side angles clearly indicated the use of a facial mask.
The Chief Minister also named Canada-based Jagman Samra, alleging that he had commissioned the mask and had earlier posted videos discussing plans to use it. Mann claimed that Samra had also created masks of other political leaders and suggested that more revelations regarding the matter would emerge in the coming days.
‘Will Send Evidence to Akal Takht’
Mann said he would forward the material presented during the press conference to the Akal Takht and request an independent inquiry into the controversy. He maintained that the Sikh community should assess the evidence and arrive at its own conclusions.
The Chief Minister also dismissed another alleged controversy linked to Gurugram, calling it fabricated and politically motivated. He said the matter would be taken up with law enforcement agencies and discussed by a committee of the Punjab Assembly.
Concluding his remarks, Mann said similar videos had surfaced during previous election campaigns and described the latest controversy as “election material” aimed at damaging his reputation ahead of future political battles. He expressed confidence that the public would judge the issue based on facts rather than allegations.
