The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, has pronounced a series of stern measures against Sukhbir Singh Badal, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, in response to his involvement in religious misconduct. A panel of five high priests, led by Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, issued a “tankhah” (religious punishment) for Badal, instructing him to clean utensils and shoes at the Golden Temple as an atonement for his actions.
In addition to this, the Akal Takht withdrew the prestigious title of ‘Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Qaum’ from Badal’s father, former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, citing his role in allegedly facilitating a pardon for self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a blasphemy case. The Akal Takht also accused Parkash Singh Badal of indirectly supporting the controversial godman’s actions, which had deeply hurt the Sikh community.
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Addressing the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh urged the party’s working committee to accept Sukhbir Badal’s resignation as SAD President within three days. The committee has also been directed to initiate a membership drive and elect a new president within six months.
This action comes after Sukhbir Badal and other key members of his party, who were in power from 2007 to 2017, were summoned to the Akal Takht on August 30 for their alleged involvement in actions that harmed the Sikh Panth. Although Badal was declared ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct), no immediate punishment was imposed at that time.
On Monday, Badal, who arrived in a wheelchair, was accompanied by other prominent SAD leaders including Sukhdev Dhindsa, Gulzar Singh Ranike, and Janmeja Sekhon. All were ordered to wear a ‘sewadar’ (service) uniform and perform cleaning duties as part of their atonement.
The controversy surrounding Sukhbir Badal’s leadership intensified following incidents of sacrilege, particularly the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib in 2015 and the controversial actions of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who allegedly mimicked Guru Gobind Singh. These events led to widespread outrage, with SAD rebels and various Sikh organizations calling for Badal’s resignation.
The rebels, including former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra and ex-SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, had earlier written to the Akal Takht, admitting their party’s role in exacerbating tensions within the Sikh community. They expressed regret over the party leadership’s failure to prevent sacrilege and pledged to face any punishment imposed by the Akal Takht.
In a letter to the Akal Takht, Sukhbir Badal acknowledged his party’s mistakes and expressed a willingness to accept responsibility for the errors committed during his leadership. He also promised to face whatever punishment the Akal Takht deemed appropriate, emphasizing his regret for failing to apprehend those responsible for the sacrilege incidents.
The ongoing fallout from the sacrilege cases has been a major issue in Punjab politics, particularly in light of the 2015 Kotkapura firing, where police fired on protestors following the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) later indicted Sukhbir Badal and former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini as masterminds of a conspiracy to suppress the public outrage and conceal government inaction.
The Akal Takht’s decision to impose these religious punishments is a significant development, reflecting ongoing tensions within Punjab’s political and religious landscape. It also underscores the importance of accountability within the Sikh community, especially when it comes to matters of religious integrity and respect.
