Amritsar, Jan. 6 -- Escalating the standoff between the AAP government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Monday summoned chief minister Bhagwant Mann for January 15. The summons follows allegations that Mann made derogatory remarks regarding Sikh traditions and tenets. Mann is the third sitting Punjab CM to be summoned by the Sikhs' highest temporal seat after Parkash Singh Badal and Surjit Singh Barnala. While Badal was summoned in 1979 by the then jathedar Sadhu Singh Bhaura over his role in Sikh-Nirankari clash that left 13 Sikh protesters dead in Amritsar, Barnala was declared tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct) in 1986 and excommunicated for ordering a police action in the Golden Temple. He eventually sought atonement two years later. Giani Gargaj said Mann's comments on Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct) and the principle of Daswandh (religious tithe) had "deeply hurt the Sikh psyche". He also cited "objectionable videos" circulating online that allegedly show the CM displaying "arrogance of power". The Akal Takht will verify the authenticity of these videos before deciding on further action. The notice clarified that because Mann is a patit (a Sikh who cuts his hair), he cannot appear on the Akal Takht platform itself and must instead report to the secretariat at 10 am on January 15. This development follows the recent registration of an FIR against 16 individuals regarding the 328 missing saroops of Guru Granth Sahib-an issue Mann claims the SGPC is using as a "shield" to protect political associates. One of the accused, Satinder Singh Kohli, a former SGPC auditor and close aide of SAD president Sukhbir Singh, was arrested 12 days after an Amritsar court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea. The FIR, filed by Sikh Sadbhawna Dal leader Baldev Singh Wadala, includes charges of criminal breach of trust, forgery, and outraging religious feelings. Giani Gargaj also asked the Punjab government to explain the delay in justice in the 2015 Bargari sacrilege and the 2017 Maur bomb blast case. He alleged that despite evidence linking Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim to these incidents, the AAP government has used the cases for political gain while failing to arrest the masterminds. The acting jathedar accused the state of an anti-Sikh bias, noting that while the government uses laws like the National Security Act (NSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against Sikh youth for minor social media posts, it failed to challenge the transfer of sacrilege cases out of Punjab. MINISTER SOND APPEARS BEFORE TAKHT, P3...