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Former Punjab Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has been punished with cleaning duties at washrooms and kitchens at Amritsar’s Golden Temple by Akal Takht, the supreme temporal authority of the Sikhs. The religious punishment is for taking “wrong political decisions” including granting a pardon to controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in 2015.
The Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Raghbir Singh, along with four other high priests, had declared Sukhbir Badal a ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) on August 30.
As part of the punishment, Sukhbir Badal and leaders of his 2015 Punjab Cabinet have been instructed to perform ‘sewa’ (selfless service) at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. This includes cleaning washrooms, washing utensils, and undertaking other religious duties to atone for their actions.
The Akal Takht has also issued a directive to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), led by Sukhbir Badal, demanding his resignation from the party within three days. The SAD working committee has been instructed to comply with this order and report back to the Akal Takht.
The Akal Takht has even withdrawn the prestigious “Faqr-e-Quam” (Pride of the Community) title previously conferred upon the late former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, citing the same controversies during the Akali regime.
The directives came after days-long proceedings by Akal Takht in which Sukhbir Badal, who is wheel-chair bound, admitted to playing a role in the controversial pardon granted to Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, a decision that sparked widespread criticism within the Sikh community.
In view of religious interests and ‘maan-maryada’ of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the SAD Working Committee had unanimously decided not to contest recent by-elections to four Assembly seats in Punjab.
