A day before a Panthic gathering called by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), devotees arriving at the Darbar Sahib under the government’s Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana were asked to remove identity cards carrying Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s photograph before entering the Golden Temple. The gathering has been called over the CM’s alleged controversial video.A large number of devotees from different districts of Punjab visited the Darbar Sahib under the government-sponsored pilgrimage scheme. Sikh activists associated with the Awaaz-e-Qaum organisation noticed that many devotees were wearing identification cards bearing CM Mann’s photograph.The activists, led by Nobeljit Singh and others, raised objections, saying that the Akal Takht had declared the Chief Minister a “Guru Dokhi” so devotees should not enter the gurdwara wearing identity cards displaying his photograph.Takht sends Feedback on sacrilege lawThe Akal Takht Secretariat officially sent its objections and key recommendations regarding the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, to the government on Saturday. The recommendations, prepared in line with the resolution passed at the June 29 meeting held at the Akal Takht Secretariat, were emailed to Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and the Chief Secretary. Akal Takht Secretariat in-charge Bagicha Singh said the documents would also be sent to the government through registered post.The activists asked the pilgrims to remove the identity cards from around their necks before proceeding inside the shrine. The devotees complied with the directions and removed the cards.Some pilgrims participating in the teerth yatra said the identity cards had been issued by the government only for identification during the journey so that members of the group could be easily identified and would not get separated. They said the cards had no other purpose.It is worth mentioning that the SGPC is organising a large Panthic gathering at Manji Sahib Diwan Hall in Amritsar on July 5. The SGPC has sent personal invitations to Panthic leaders, members of the Sant Samaj, heads of religious deras, preachers and heads of various Sikh sects to attend the gathering. Extensive arrangements have been made for a large turnout. SGPC members claimed that a convoy of 65 buses from Takht Sri Damdama Sahib left for Amritsar on Saturday. The gathering is expected to deliberate on the future course of action to be taken by the Akal Takht.