Five high priests to take call on Sukhbir’s tankhah today

Five high priests headed by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh would assemble tomorrow to take a call on the quantum of ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) to be pronounced to Sukhbir Badal.

It’s yet to be seen whether the five high priests pronounce only ‘religious punishment’ or put some ‘political compulsions’ on Sukhbir. Recently, ‘orders of expulsion’ were announced against former SAD MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha for 10 years, holding him guilty of ‘character assassination’ of Takht Jathedars.

On August 30, Sukhbir was declared ‘tankhaiya’ by Akal Takht, which held him guilty of religious misconduct by way of taking ‘wrong’ political decisions between 2007 and 2017, including pardoning Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015 being the root cause of Panthic crisis, followed by violent clashes between Dera followers and Sikhs in parts of Punjab.

In addition, a series of incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in parts of Punjab and police firing that killed two Sikh protesters, stoking the Sikh anger against then ruling SAD.

It has been learnt that old ‘tankhah’ orders pronounced by Akal Takht from the times of Sikh emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh (who was also awarded ‘tankhah’), were studied to zero in on Sukhbir’s case. Others who were awarded ‘tankhah’ in the past included former President Giani Zail Singh, former CM Surjit Singh Barnala, former home minister Buta Singh, former SAD president Jagdev Singh Talwandi and former MP and SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

The 2015 panel of Jathedars — Giani Gurbachan Singh (Akal Takht), Giani Gurmukh Singh (Takht Damdama Sahib) and Giani Iqbal Singh (Takht Patna Sahib) have already submitted their clarification in writing pertaining to the flip-flop decision of pardoning Dera Sirsa cult.

Alongwith Sukhbir, 17 former Akali ministers or those who were given Cabinet rank or were part of the core committee of the SAD during the term between 2007 and 2017, have also been summoned to appear at Akal Takht.

This also includes the group of Akalis from rebel camp who under the banner of ‘SAD Sudhar Lehar’ had approached Akal Takht with ‘admittance of guilt’ on July 1 and held the SAD leadership headed by Sukhbir responsible for ‘mistakes’.

Lately, former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief, who shifted allegiance to the BJP, Manjinder Singh Sirsa has also been called up at Akal Takht to submit written clarification. Sirsa was given cabinet rank when Parkash Singh Badal was the CM. “Though, I was not in the picture when Dera Sirsa chief was pardoned, still I have also received Akal Takht’s notice. I was advisor to Sukhbir in 2016,” he said.

SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami and 2015 executive members were also ordered to be present. Giving a stern warning, Akal Takht has cautioned the ‘guilty’ Akali leaders to have control over their supporters so that proceedings should not be disrupted.

Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said adequate security arrangements were in place to deal with any untoward incident in and around the Golden Temple.