Chandigarh, June 18 (IANS) Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Cheema on Thursday exposed a sinister political conspiracy to defame Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann by citing forensic investigations conducted by two independent government of India-recognised laboratories. He told the media here that a technical analysis of 1,191 video frames conclusively established that the individual seen in the viral video is not CM Mann.

Cheema along with AAP spokesperson Baltej Pannu pointed out that anti-panth and anti-Punjab forces orchestrated the conspiracy after being rattled by the government’s enactment of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act.

They said those responsible for creating and circulating the fabricated video would be identified, thoroughly investigated and brought to justice.

Senior AAP leader Cheema said for several days Akali Dal leaders had been attempting to inflame public emotions by circulating a fake video and falsely linking it to CM Mann.

“The entire episode was part of a larger political conspiracy aimed at defaming a popular Chief Minister who has consistently worked for the people of Punjab.” He said the truth has now come before the people of Punjab.

“Those who attempted to mislead the public and hurt religious sentiments by using a fabricated video have been completely exposed.”

Sharing details of the forensic investigations, Cheema said two independent laboratories recognised by the government of India thoroughly examined the viral video and arrived at the same conclusion.

The forensic analysis examined 1,191 frames from the video. Every aspect, including facial features, height, body structure, posture, movement patterns, side profile and back profile, was thoroughly analysed. The reports clearly concluded that the person shown in the video does not match CM Mann.

The minister said according to the forensic reports the height of the individual appearing in the video was estimated to be approximately five feet 10 inches, whereas CM Mann’s height is five feet 8 inches. He said significant differences were also identified in body structure, shoulder alignment, facial characteristics and overall posture.

“Both laboratories independently arrived at the same conclusion and found no match between the person in the video and the Chief Minister.”

Calling out the Akali Dal, Cheema said the party has a long and unfortunate history of exploiting religious issues for political gains while repeatedly failing to protect the sanctity of the ‘panth’.

He said the people of Punjab have not forgotten the 1986 Nakodar incident when sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib were set on fire during an Akali Dal government. They have not forgotten the subsequent police firing in which four Sikh youths were killed while demanding justice.

Cheema further pointed to the ‘beadbi’ incidents of 2015 and the police firing at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura during the Akali Dal-BJP regime.

“The pattern is the same. Whenever the Akali Dal and the BJP were in power, ‘beadbi’ incidents took place and justice was denied. The people of Punjab have not forgotten these painful chapters,” he added.

The minister said that despite having two years in power after the 2015 ‘beadbi’ incidents, the Akali Dal government failed to act even on the findings of the Justice Zora Singh Commission.

“Successive Congress governments formed multiple Special Investigation Teams, yet meaningful action remained elusive until the AAP government came to power,” he added.

–IANS

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