Sukhbir can’t take part in poll activity, says Takht Jathedar

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh today said SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal cannot be permitted to participate in any political activity till “tankhah” (religious punishment) is pronounced upon him and he complied with it.

The statement of Takht Jathedar has dashed all hopes of SAD chief contesting the Gidderbaha bypoll scheduled on November 13 as deadline for filing nomination papers is October 25.

The Jathedar said those declared “tankhaiya” cannot be forgiven till the “tankhah” is pronounced upon from the “faseel” (podium) of Akal Takht and the guilty abides by it.

The decision on Sukhbir’s case is still pending for want of assembly of five high priests to decide the quantum of “tankhah”. “No relaxation can be given till a ‘tankhaiya’ takes on ‘tankhah’ successfully. The five high priests’ meeting will be scheduled after Diwali,” he said.

On August 30, the high priests, headed by Akal Takht Jathedar had declared Sukhbir “tankhaiya”. They indicted him of religious misconduct for controversial decisions taken during the party’s tenure between 2007 and 2017, when he was holding the portfolio of Home Ministry and the Deputy CM.

Yesterday, SAD delegation had approached the Jathedar and sought his nod to let the party contest the bypoll under the leadership of Sukhbir.

The delegation, including SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder, spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kler and former ministers Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Maheshinder Singh Garewal and Janmeja Singh Sekhon held a closed-door discussion with the Jathedar at his residence in the Golden Temple complex.

A victory in the Gidderbaha bypoll was being anticipated as a repeat of history for the revival of the SAD. In 1995, after the victory in the Gidderbaha bypoll, the SAD had formed the government in 1997. There were reports that the party was inclined to field Sukhbir from Gidderbaha — the Assembly segment his father and Akali patriarch Parkash Singh Badal represented for five-consecutive terms from 1969 to 1985 and later shifted his focus to the Lambi Assembly segment.

Dr Cheema said Sukhbir had appeared at Akal Takht the very next day he was declared “tankhaiya” and had urged to pronounce the “tankhah”, but the high priests hadn’t assembled yet.

Valtoha reacts

• Reacting over Akal Takht Jathedar’s statement, former SAD member Virsa Singh Valtoha posted online “kar deo hun khatam hi, koi kasar baaki na reh jave…Panth da rabb rakha”
• Valtoha had quit SAD, after Akal Takht ordered the SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder to expel him for next 10 years from the primary membership of the party

SAD calls emergency meeting

• The SAD has called an emergency meeting of its working committee and district presidents at the party’s head office in Chandigarh on October 24
• SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder along with senior leaders would discuss in detail the current political situation during the meeting