Akal Takht Finds Sukhbir Singh Badal Guilty of Religious Misconduct, Orders Seva at Golden Temple

Akal Takht Finds Sukhbir Singh Badal Guilty of Religious Misconduct: Five chief priests of the Sikh community - headed by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on Monday pronounced 'tankhah' (religious punishment) against former president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The working committee was asked to endorse Sukhbir's resignation and report it to Akal Takht in three days, as well as set up a committee which would conduct polls for SAD president and other office-bearers in six months' time.

The title Fakhr-e-Quom given to late former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal was also repealed, as he was the Chief Minister when 'mistakes' took place that injured the Sikh community and its feelings. The mistakes were treated as nothing less than a sin (gunah) by the Takht.

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Convicted for religious misconduct" during the SAD's time from 2007 to 2017 were these Sikh ministers in the SAD-BJP government and core committee members of the party for "controversial" decisions made.

Said by Giani Raghbir Singh to the 'guilty' Akalis from the podium of Akal Takht, will count on wearing plates round necks with messages of their admission of guilt.

Deferring to Sukhbir's health, a hairline fracture he suffered to his leg granted him a punishment of sitting in a temple at the entrance of Golden Temple, wearing guard's dress during the two days for one hour each, using a wheelchair. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, senior leader who turns against the party, is afflicted by the same punishment because of his advanced age and health factors.

For an hour, they would also perform sewa at Guru Ram Dass Jee Langar Hall by cleaning the utensils and shoes of devotees at the Golden Temple and would listen to kirtan as per their health conditions. They will also serve as 'sewadar' at Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, Darbar Sahib at Muktsar, and Fatehgarh Sahib for two days each.

All other party leaders and former ministers Sucha Singh Langah, Hira Singh Gabria, Balwinder Singh Bhundar, Daljit Singh Cheema, and Gulzar Singh Ranike will be doing one hour of cleaning in the washrooms at the Golden Temple and then utensils in the combination kitchen, then cleaning shoes of devotees after taking a bath. In addition, they will listen to the 'kirtan' for an hour, the high priest mentioned.

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Other Akali leaders, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Bikram Singh Majithia, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Charanjit Singh Atwal, and Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, were also told to clean the golden temple washrooms for one hour.

In 2015, Sukhbir Singh Badal was asked by Raghbir Singh to clarify the truth on the charges of a "dubious role" levelled against him pertaining to his facilitating the pardon of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who was charged with a blasphemy case. He was also asked if he had pressurized the then Takht Jathedars in this regard by calling them to his residence, and was directed to answer all its queries with a simple 'yes' or 'no' , pertaining to controversial decisions taken when the party was in power in the state from 2007 to 2017.

The whole Akali Cabinet from 2007 to 2017 has been summoned by the Jathedar, along with the party's core committee and the 2015 internal committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

It was three months later that the verdict of punishment was received by Sukhbir from the Akal Takht as being "tankhaiya" or guilty of some religious misdeeds. The punishment came after rebel party leaders Prem Singh Chandumajra, Bibi Jagir Kaur, and others appeared before the Akal Takht on July 1 and sought forgiveness for four "mistakes" they had committed during the time of SAD's rule from 2007 to 2017, of which two were failing to punish the culprits of sacrilege cases of 2015 and granting pardon to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2007 blasphemy case.

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