The Akal Takht has issued a strong statement against the Bhagwant Mann government and the centre over the Punjab Police crackdown against separatist preacher Amritpal Singh, questioning why similar action is not taken against "those who demand Hindu Rashtra". Akal Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the state government to release Sikh youths picked up during the crackdown against the separatist preacher. He was addressing a gathering of Sikh organisations comprising intellectuals, lawyers, journalists, religious and social leaders to discuss the situation in Punjab.