NEW DELHI: The Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht on Monday issued a ‘tankhah‘ (religious punishment) for Sukhbir Singh Badal, citing the “mistakes” committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and its government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.
The punishment includes a directive for Badal to perform as a ‘sewadar‘ (service volunteer) and clean utensils and shoes at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
The order was pronounced by Giani Raghbir Singh, the Jathedar of the Akal Takht, from the ‘faseel’ (podium) in Amritsar. The Jathedar also instructed the SAD’s working committee to accept Sukhbir Badal‘s resignation as party president and form a committee to conduct elections for the post and other office-bearers within six months.
The Jathedar in a further significant move announced the withdrawal of the title of ‘Fakhre-e-Qaum’ (Pride of the Community) from former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, father of Sukhbir Badal.
The five Singh Sahibans (Sikh clergy) also issued religious punishments for other Sikh leaders who served as ministers in the Akali Cabinet between 2007 and 2017.
Giani Raghbir Singh stated that both Sukhbir Badal, who was on a wheelchair due to a fractured leg, and rebel leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa have been instructed to sit outside the Golden Temple for one hour each for two days, dressed as ‘sewadar’. They will also perform the service of ‘sewadar’ at Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, Darbar Sahib at Muktsar, and Fatehgarh Sahib for two days each.
Both Badal and Dhindsa are further required to clean utensils and shoes of devotees at the Golden Temple for one hour, as well as attend ‘kirtan’ (religious hymns).
Before the punishment was announced, Sukhbir Badal admitted to the mistakes made during the SAD regime, including pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2007 blasphemy case.
The punishment was handed down nearly three months after Sukhbir Badal was declared ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht.
Additionally, the Jathedar instructed several other Akali leaders, including Sucha Singh Langah, Hira Singh Gabria, Balwinder Singh Bhundar, Daljit Singh Cheema, and Gulzar Singh Ranike, to clean washrooms at the Golden Temple for one hour, followed by cleaning utensils at the community kitchen after bathing. They are also required to listen to ‘kirtan’ for one hour.
Other leaders, including Bibi Jagir Kaur, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Bikram Singh Majithia, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Charanjit Singh Atwal, and Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, have been similarly instructed to clean washrooms at the Golden Temple for one hour.
The Jathedar had previously summoned the entire Akali Cabinet from 2007 to 2017, along with the party’s core committee and the 2015 internal committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, to address the issues.
Sukhbir Badal arrived at the Akal Takht on a wheelchair, having suffered a minor hairline fracture on his right foot last month. He had been declared ‘tankhaiya’ after rebel party leaders, including Chandumajra, Kaur, and others, appeared before the Akal Takht on July 1 and sought forgiveness for four “mistakes” during the SAD rule between 2007 and 2017. These included the failure to punish those responsible for the 2015 sacrilege incidents and pardoning Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 2007 blasphemy case.