Chandigarh | Facing mounting criticism from the opposition over a controversial video, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday reiterated that he was not in that video and claimed that the person seen in the objectionable clip was wearing a mask resembling his face.
The matter stems from the Akal Takht summoning Mann in January this year for allegedly making comments on 'Guru ki Golak' (gurdwara donation box) and indulging in "objectionable activities" with the pictures of the Sikh Gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the purported video clip.
Addressing the media in Mohali on Thursday, Mann showed a purported video clip to claim that the person seen in the controversial video was wearing a mask which resembles his face.
On January 15, when Mann had appeared before the Akal Takht in Amritsar, he had submitted that the video was fake or AI-generated and that the 'Singh Sahib' (Sikh Clergy) could get its forensic examination done from any lab in the country.
On June 18, the chief minister reiterated that it was not him in the objectionable video and claimed that some actor was imitating him. He cited reports of two labs showing that the man in the alleged objectionable video was someone else.
He further said that a surgical scar on his throat was also not visible on that man in the video, stressing that he was not in the purported video.
"Today, I am going to show the biggest truth of this video. Then there would not be anything left to say on it. The 'Nanak Naam Leva Sangat' will decide," he said.
"I am going to show a video of one person, who was imitating me, was wearing a mask, and this mask is visible. I have a surgical mark on my throat. Those who made this video forgot to show that mark," Mann said.
The person in the video was wearing sunglasses to hide his eyes, said the chief minister.
He claimed that a Canada-based person, whom he identified as Jagman Samra, brought a mask.
The chief minister also showed another video, claiming that Samra was holding that mask, which resembles his (Mann's) face.
"In the video, Samra could be heard saying that a mask can be put on a face. The day he took the delivery of the mask, he made this video," claimed Mann.
"This blackmailer, who is holding this mask in his hand, put it on some other person and made a video," he claimed.
Mann claimed that the video was made in a hotel room in Abbotsford in Canada.
He said he had not visited that country since 2016, adding that the alleged objectionable video was said to be shot after 2017-18.
"Who installs pictures of Guru Sahib in hotels?" he asked.
Mann also claimed that Samra arranged a mask of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.
"Who gave him money to make this video? Who is the producer and director of this video? We will reveal in the coming days," Mann said.
The chief minister said he will share this video with the Akal Takht for getting it examined.
"The man in the video is wearing a mask. How could you call someone wearing a mask Bhagwant Mann?" he said.
"I have been saying that I am not in that video as the person seen in the video clip does not match his height and physique," Mann said.
Asked whether he knew Samra, Mann said he met him once when he was in the People's Party of Punjab.
"He is not my friend. I have nothing to do with him. He lives in Abbotsford and he hails from Sangrur," said Mann.
Asked about two Punjab Police officers who visited Gurugram to get a fabricated forensic report of the video, Mann slammed the BJP saying the party, which is ruling Haryana, can get any statement by thrashing someone.
The Haryana Police on Tuesday arrested two men on a complaint regarding the alleged procurement of a fabricated forensic report related to a viral video linked to the controversy involving him.
Slamming the opposition parties, Mann said the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the BJP were targeting him over religious issues. These parties were releasing fake videos with the intention of making people start hating him. "But it is not possible," he said.
He said he had already appeared before the Akal Takht when he was summoned.
"I am ready to appear if called again. I cannot challenge the authority of the Akal Takht," said Mann.
A political row has erupted over an alleged objectionable video over which the Akal Takht, the supreme temporal body of Sikhs, issued an edict against Mann on June 15.
The edict came after Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj claimed that the video, purportedly showing a man resembling Mann, was found to be "authentic" by two forensic laboratories.
