Akal Takht pronounces Sukhbir Singh Badal tankhaiya over ‘anti-Panth’ acts

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 30

Akal Takht on Friday declared SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct) for the “mistakes” committed by his party and the government run by it from 2007 to 2017.

At a meeting of the five high priests, convened by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh at the Akal Takht secretariat today, it was unanimously decided to declare Sukhbir “tankhaiya” till he appears as a “nimana (humble)” Sikh and seeks atonement for “sins” before Akal Takht in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib and the five high priests. Sukhbir has appointed Balwinder Singh Bhunder as the working president of the SAD. On July 24, without specifically mentioning the “mistakes”, Sukhbir had owned up responsibility for these and sought unconditional forgiveness from Akal Takht in writing. Allegations were levelled against him by a group of dissident Akali leaders.

Akal Takht has also summoned the Sikh ministers (without naming them) in the then Cabinet who were part of the contentious decisions that “dented the sanctity” of the Sikh Panth.

They have been directed to submit their clarification by personally appearing before Akal Takht within a fortnight.

Giani Raghbir Singh announced the verdict from the “faseel (podium)” of Akal Takht. He said Sukhbir had been granted 15 days to comply with the five high priests’ decision.

The Jathedar said: “Sukhbir has been declared ‘tankhaiya’ till he, as a ‘nimana (humble)’ Sikh, seeks penance for the ‘gunah (sins)’ committed as the SAD head and Deputy CM from 2007 to 2017. He and his ‘bhaiwal (aide)’ Sikh Cabinet ministers took several decisions that led to the SAD’s debacle, hurting the sentiments and interests of the Panth. They have been given 15 days to submit their stance in person.”

Ironically, among the dissident leaders (now expelled) who had approached Akal Takht against Sukhbir, several were Cabinet ministers during the SAD-BJP government’s term form 2007 to 2017.

Technically, they too have been summoned by Akal Takht to clear their stance. The leaders include Bibi Jagir Kaur, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Sikandar Singh Maluka, Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Sarwan Singh Phillaur.

On July 1, they had submitted a joint letter holding Sukhbir responsible for violating the Akal Takht edict issued against controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in 2007.

While no Sikh was supposed to have any relationship with the dera chief, under Sukhbir’s presidency, the SAD got political support from the dera, followed by his exoneration for a blasphemous bid to impersonate Guru Gobind Singh in 2007 and the SGPC’s move to justify the pardon by releasing media advertisements worth Rs 90 lakh from the Guru’s “golak”.

They had also pointed out a series of sacrilege incidents in Faridkot in 2015 and the firing incidents at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan. They alleged that these cases were not pursued properly. Besides, a tainted IPS officer, infamous for fake encounters of Sikh youth, was elevated to the top post in the state police.