Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and other party leaders started their religious retribution, or tankhah, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Tuesday. This punishment has been pronounced by Sri Akal Takht Sahib as reparation for “errors” that occurred during the period when the SAD was at the helm of affairs between 2007 and 2017.
A Symbolic Gesture of Atonement
Sukhbir Singh Badal was seen seated in a wheelchair at the temple’s gate with a spear in hand and a plaque around his neck admitting all the misdeeds his administration had done. He was asked to do seva as a sewadar, which includes washing dishes, cleaning shoes, and sitting through kirtan.
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Punishment extends to all the other leaders of SAD. These include leaders who also acted as ministers or happened to be a part of the core committee. Each needs to perform acts of service at different holy places including Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, and Darbar Sahib at Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib.
Clergy’s Verdict and Actions
On Monday, Sikh High Priest Giani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar of the Akal Takht, announced the religious instruction. Along with the sanction, he canceled the title of Fakhre-e-Qaum (Pride of the Community) given to ex-Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who was Sukhbir’s late father.
In addition, the Sikh clergy asked the SAD working committee to accept Sukhbir Badal’s resignation as party chief and hold elections for fresh office-bearers within six months. Sukhbir had resigned in November, citing new leadership.
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Admission of Mistakes
Before the edict was announced, Sukhbir Singh Badal publicly admitted to having made errors during his term. These included the unpopular decision to pardon Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2007 blasphemy case that had attracted mass criticism.
The punishment, which also includes SAD rebel leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, is also underlined by the Akal Takht’s stress on accountability in Sikh leadership. Both leaders have to perform specific acts of service for two days each, and Sukhdev Dhindsa has also come in a wheelchair as he is not fit to move due to old age health issues.
This directive, delivered nearly three months after Sukhbir Badal was declared tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct), is a very significant moment in Sikh political and religious history.