Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, the Jathedar of the Akal Takht—the highest temporal seat of the Sikh faith—has issued a formal directive to SGPC member Karnail Singh Panjoli. The instruction explicitly forbids Panjoli from engaging in meetings with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann regarding the release of Sikh political prisoners, commonly referred to as 'Bandi Singhs'.

This development highlights a growing tension between the religious leadership and the state government. The issue of 'Bandi Singhs' involves individuals who have remained incarcerated following the completion of their sentences, a long-standing point of contention within the Sikh community and Punjab politics. By directing a senior member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to abstain from dialogue with the Chief Minister, the Akal Takht is signaling a shift in its approach toward the state administration. While the directive is clear, the underlying reasons for the Jathedar's refusal to engage with the Chief Minister at this time remain largely unelaborated in current reports. The move suggests that the religious body may be seeking a different strategy or expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of negotiations regarding the prisoners' release.