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US citizen awarded tankhah
Our Correspondent

Amritsar, November 18
A US citizen and former Punjab Government employee, Mohinder Singh, was given tankhah (religious punishment) at Akal Takht by five high priests today.

Earlier, Mohinder Singh was excommunicated during the tenure of former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, in 1998. The excommunication order stated that he had used derogatory words for Akal Takht, Guru Granth Sahib, Harmandar Sahib and the five Ks in the USA, besides changing and lowering the esteem of Sikh ‘maryada’ and misusing some Sikh religious words.

The high priests also held him guilty of failure to clarify his stand when summoned at Akal Takht.

In the tankhah, Mohinder Singh has been asked to dust shoes, clean utensils, sweep floors and listen to kirtan for an hour daily for 15 days and present himself at Akal Takht before the ‘Panj Piare’ (five beloved ones). After the completion of tankhah he has been ordered to offer parshad worth Rs 101 and perform ardas for his forgiveness.

The order on the Akal Takht letterhead was signed by the five priests, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, Giani Gurbachan Singh, Granthi, Sri Darbar Sahib, Giani Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Jagtar Singh, Granthi, Darbar Sahib and Bhai Bhagwan Singh, Head Granthi, Akal Takht.