Fact check: Did Bhagwant Mann remove the picture of Maharaja Ranjit Singh from the CM office?

After the remarkable win of AAP in the Punjab Election 2022 and Bhagwant Mann taking the position of chief minister Punjab, Social media is filled with different claims about him.

Punjab Lok Congress claimed that CM Bhagwant Mann has removed the photo of Maharaja Ranjit Singh from the office of Chief Minister Punjab.

Removing Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh's picture from Chief Minister's office is unacceptable. Maharaja Ranjit Singh is a great symbol of Punjabis' pride, valour and courage. Nobody can take his place.

Appeal @BhagwantMann to restore it.
— Punjab Lok Congress (@plcpunjab) March 17, 2022

Many other users have also claimed that Punjab CM has replaced the picture with Bhagat Singh and Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.

प्रिय @BhagwantMann जी, CMO में शहीद भगत सिंह और बाबा साहेब का चित्र लगाना बहुत प्रशंसनीय है परंतु शेरे पंजाब महाराजा रणजीत सिंह का चित्र हटा कर ना सिर्फ़ आपने इस महान शख़्सियत का बल्कि पूरे पंजाब का अपमान किया है । तुरंत माफ़ी माँगिए और पूरे सम्मान के साथ चित्र वापिस लगाइये । pic.twitter.com/Bfk6WddCb2
— Subhash Sharma (@DrSubhash78) March 17, 2022

Kejriwal govt's disrespectful attack on Sikh identity. Punjab govt removes photo of Maharaja Ranjit Singh from Punjab Chief Minister's Office.

Do note, whether it was Akali dal or Congress, no one in the past dared to remove the portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh from the CMO. pic.twitter.com/f3NWJzGdTs
— Priti Gandhi – प्रीति गांधी (@MrsGandhi) March 17, 2022

Fact check

After examining the claim and doing a google reverse image search, we found a tweet of ANI posting the image of Bhagwant Singh’s cabinet meet. We can see the picture of Ranjit Singh in the office behind the seat of Bhagwant Mann.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann addressed his maiden meeting after assuming charge as the Chief Minister of the state.

He urged the top brass of state civil & police administration to discharge their duties as public servants in the letter and spirit: CMO pic.twitter.com/2MrNQeNWJY
— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2022

Another claim, where the opposition is claiming that the picture has always been hung behind the seat of the CM or in the Centre of the hall is incorrect. In the report of ANI in 2021 when former Chief Minister, Charanjit Singh Channi held a cabinet meeting in Punjab, the picture of Maharaja Ranjit was not placed at the back. Therefore the claim is misleading.

Conclusion: the claim is misleading.

Claim review: Bhagwant Mann remove the picture of Maharaja Ranjit Singh from the CM office

Claim by: Punjab Lok Congress

Fact check: Misleading