The Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority for Sikhs, has pronounced tankhah (religious punishment) for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal and other senior party figures. The directive, issued by Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on Monday, cited "mistakes" made by the SAD government during its tenure from 2007 to 2017, including the controversial decision to pardon Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in 2007.
As part of the punishment, Sukhbir Singh Badal was seen at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Tuesday, sitting in a wheelchair due to a fractured leg, holding a spear, and wearing a plaque acknowledging his actions. He was also directed to serve as a sewadar (volunteer), cleaning shoes and washing utensils, in addition to sitting in a designated area to reflect on his actions. Similar punishments were announced for other party leaders who held ministerial roles during the same period.
The Sikh clergy also withdrew the honorary title of Fakhre-e-Qaum (Pride of the Community) previously bestowed upon former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Badal’s late father, who passed away in April 2023. Additionally, the clergy directed the SAD working committee to formally accept Sukhbir Badal’s resignation as party president, submitted in November, and organize elections for a new leadership within six months.
The punishment underscores the Akal Takht’s commitment to upholding Sikh principles and ensuring accountability among political leaders. It also reflects a broader reckoning within the SAD, as it seeks to navigate a period of internal reform and renewal.
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