Akal Takht Imposes Sanctions on Sukhbir Badal; Directs Former Dy CM to Undertake Cleaning Duties at Golden Temple

Amritsar, Dec 2 (NationPress) A panel of five high priests, under the leadership of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, convened on Monday to announce a religious sentence, commonly referred to as “tankhah”, for Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had previously been found guilty of religious misconduct. The former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab is required to perform the tasks of cleaning utensils and shoes within the sacred precincts of the Golden Temple.

Additionally, the Akal Takht, regarded as the highest temporal authority among Sikhs, has rescinded the title of ‘Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Qaum’ from the late Parkash Singh Badal, a prominent figure in the state's political landscape. He has been accused of 'facilitating' a pardon for the self-proclaimed godman and Dera Sacha Sauda leader, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, in a case of blasphemy.

Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh instructed the Akal Dal working committee to accept Sukhbir Badal's resignation as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President within a three-day timeframe and urged the committee to initiate a membership campaign, aiming to elect a new President in the next six months.

Sukhbir Badal, along with other ministers who were part of political decisions from 2007 to 2017 during their party's governance, which adversely affected the Sikh Panth, was summoned to appear before the Akal Takht in the Golden Temple complex on August 30. They were designated ‘tankhaiya’ but did not receive punishment at that time.

Moreover, Akali Dal leaders including Sukhbir Badal, Sukhdev Dhindsa, Gulzar Singh Ranike, and Janmeja Sekhon have been mandated to wear a sewadar uniform and partake in the sewa of cleaning utensils and shoes as a form of atonement.

Earlier today, Sukhbir Badal arrived at Akal Takht Sahib using a wheelchair.

In addition to Sukhbir Badal, Giani Raghbir Singh had summoned other party members and significant figures from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to explain the allegations of religious infringements.

Members of SAD who oppose Sukhbir Badal, along with various Sikh organizations, have insisted that he resign as President following incidents of sacrilege that have offended the Sikh community due to actions by the self-styled godman and Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who allegedly mimicked Guru Gobind Singh in 2007, and the 2015 desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib.

The dissenters, including former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, ex-SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, and former minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, communicated to Giani Raghbir Singh on July 1 that they were “prepared to accept any punishment deemed suitable by the Akal Takht.”

In a letter addressed to the Akal Takht Jathedar, they acknowledged their “guilt” concerning the “errors committed” by the leadership of the party, which has “hurt” the Sikh Panth.

The correspondence also alleged that Sukhbir Badal had misused his influence to grant clemency to the Dera Sacha Sauda chief in the blasphemy case.

It is worth noting that the Akal Takht had previously pardoned the Dera Sacha Sauda chief in 2015 after he issued a written apology in a blasphemy case.

Following the rebels' demand for an apology from Sukhbir Badal, the Akal Takht secretariat released a letter on August 5, which was authored by the SAD chief, in which he sought “unconditional forgiveness.”

“I accept accountability for all errors made, either by the party or during the administration of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal),” the letter stated.

Sukhbir Badal also expressed his readiness to accept any penalties imposed by the Akal Takht Sahib.

At the 103rd foundation day celebration of the party on December 15, 2023, Sukhbir Badal expressed regret over the SAD's inability to catch the individuals responsible for the sacrilege incidents.

In February 2023, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was investigating sacrilege and police firing incidents from 2015, submitted a charge sheet to a Faridkot court, implicating Sukhbir Badal and then DGP Sumedh Singh Saini as the masterminds behind the events.

The charge sheet also held Parkash Singh Badal, the former Chief Minister and Sukhbir Badal's father, accountable for the Kotkapura firing case that followed the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib and the ensuing violence, which led to police actions resulting in two fatalities.

Official reports indicated that then Punjab Home Minister Sukhbir Badal and then DGP Sumedh Saini conspired to employ force to cover up the state government's inaction following sacrilege incidents in Faridkot district.

In Punjab, issues surrounding blasphemy and sacrilege have remained highly sensitive during every election since the 2015 Kotkapura firing case.