Akal Takht Jathedar announces religious punishments for Sukhbir Singh Badal, other SAD leaders

PTC Web Desk: A crucial meeting of five high priests (Panj Singh Sahiban) took place at Sri Akal Takht Sahib at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Monday, where serious religious and political issues were discussed. The gathering came in the wake of controversial decisions made during the tenure of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government, particularly regarding the pardon granted to Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim and the mishandling of the sacrilege cases that took place in Punjab in 2015.

Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghubir Singh announced a series of religious punishments for prominent leaders, including former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. According to the religious directives, Sukhbir Singh Badal, along with other key members of the SAD, including former ministers and members of the SGPC, would undergo a significant punishment for their roles in the controversial decisions.

As part of the punishment, Sukhbir Singh Badal, a key figure in the SAD government during the 2007-2017 period, along with other leaders  has been instructed to spend time at key gurdwaras, such as Sri Darbar Sahib, Damdama Sahib, and Kesgarh Sahib, for two days each. During this period, they are expected to serve the community by cleaning utensils, attending Kirtan sessions, and dedicating time to self-reflection.

One of the most significant elements of the penance involves Sukhbir Singh Badal sitting outside Sri Darbar Sahib holding a spear (Barchha) and wearing a wooden plaque (Takhthi) around his neck, a symbolic act of humility and penance. Others have been directed to clean bathrooms from 12 pm to 1 pm at the Sri Darbar Sahib complex. Afterward, they would take a bath and serve in the community kitchen (langar). 

Besides, the honour of ‘Fakhr-e-Qaum’ (Pride of the Nation) award, previously granted to the late Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, will be revoked in light of the allegations and actions taken during the tenure of the SAD government in Punjab.

Earlier, during the meeting, various leaders, including Prem Singh Chandumajra, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Daljit Singh Cheema, and others presented their statements. Sukhbir Singh Badal publicly acknowledged his mistake in granting a pardon to Gurmeet Ram Rahim, which had sparked significant unrest in Punjab, especially after Ram Rahim’s controversial actions in 2007, where he mimicked the attire and rituals of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Although the case was initially filed against Ram Rahim, the Akali government withdrew it, and the pardon granted to him later was also revoked after protests from the Sikh community.

On the other hand, Prem Singh Chandumajra, former SAD leader, strongly denied the allegations levelled against him and stated that they were baseless. Similarly, other senior leaders, including Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, and Gurcharan Singh Grewal, also rejected the accusations against them, claiming they had no involvement in the controversial decisions taken during the Akali government’s rule.

The meeting included former ministers from the SAD government of 2007-2017, members of the SGPC’s 2015 executive, and the current SGPC president, Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami. 

Sukhbir Singh Badal and other prominent leaders, including Bikram Singh Majithia, Prem Singh Chandumajra, and others, have been directed to work at their local gurdwaras, cleaning utensils and offering service to the community. The Akal Takht Jathedar has also ordered that these leaders submit their resignations, which will be forwarded to the Akal Takht for approval.

As a part of the larger religious directive, the leaders are asked to reflect on their past actions, as the Akal Takht aims to restore honour to the Sikh community. The punishment also includes a directive to reverse any privileges earlier granted to certain individuals, such as Giani Gurbachan Singh, who has been asked to return all facilities provided by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. In the directive issued by the Akal Takht, Giani Gurmukh Singh has been ordered to be transferred out of Amritsar until he seeks an apology for his actions. 

The Shiromani committee's account branch will recover Rs 90 lakh, which was allegedly spent on advertisements for election campaigns. These funds were reportedly used for promoting various political leaders, including Sukhbir Badal, Dhindsa, and others during their campaigns.

Harvinder Singh Sarna, who faced significant criticism from the Akal Takht after calling for a meeting with scholars, also found himself in trouble. His statements, which were posted on social media, have been deemed disrespectful. Following complaints, a letter was sent to Sarna, stating that he showed no remorse for his actions. As a result, Harvinder Singh Sarna has been declared tankhaiya. It is now ordered that no Sikh should engage with him. 

Akali Dal workers have also been asked to plant saplings.

The Jathedar also stated that the resignations submitted by leaders from Shiromani Akali Dal would be accepted within the next three days. He reprimanded the rebellious leaders and advised them to return to the party fold. Giani Raghubir Singh said while these leaders had worked as part of the government, they had now become rebels, which he deemed wrong.