A fresh confrontation has emerged in Punjab between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led state government and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-aligned Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), this time over the separate plans to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced that the state’s official celebrations will run from November 19 to 25, including a major yatra beginning in Srinagar and flagged off by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Additionally, separate yatras from Punjab’s Majha, Malwa, and Doaba regions will converge at Anandpur Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Tegh Bahadur, which will be transformed into a symbolic “white city.”
The SGPC, however, strongly opposed the government's move. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami criticized the parallel celebrations, accusing the Mann-led administration of disrupting Sikh traditions and deliberately marginalizing Sikh institutions. He stated that the SGPC, as the primary religious body for Sikhs, has the rightful authority to lead such religious events and called on the government to support rather than interfere.
In response, CM Bhagwant Mann questioned whether the SGPC had a “copyright” over Sikh commemorative events. He also reminded that during the tenure of former CM Prakash Singh Badal, the SGPC and the state government had collaborated on similar occasions.
This clash is reminiscent of a 2019 dispute between the SGPC and the Congress-led state government over parallel celebrations for Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary.
The 350th martyrdom anniversary holds political significance, especially as Punjab gears up for the 2027 Assembly elections. For the SAD, which is facing internal challenges and a shrinking voter base, this event is seen as a chance to re-establish public engagement. The AAP government, meanwhile, appears intent on asserting its presence in both cultural and religious spaces.
Despite the disagreement, preparations by the state are underway on a large scale. Over one crore devotees are expected in Anandpur Sahib. A “tent city” will be set up, sound-and-light shows will take place across all districts, and university seminars will aim to promote Guru Tegh Bahadur’s teachings. Coordination efforts with Haryana, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir are also ongoing.
The SGPC has planned to invite leaders from across India to its events, but its secretary, Balwinder Singh, stated there had been no formal communication from the state government. If the two sides opt for reconciliation, it could result in an unusual political scene—CM Mann and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal sharing a platform, despite the SGPC’s repeated criticism of the current state leadership.
