Sukhbir, Dhindsa Sr stand guard, spared toilet cleaning
A day after the Akal Takht pronounced the “tankhah” (punishment for religious misconduct), SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal along with Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa performed the duty of a “sewadar” at the entrance to the Golden Temple complex today. The senior Akali leaders wore a plaque bearing “admittance of guilt” around their neck.
Editorial: Sewadar Sukhbir
Donning blue “chola” (attire) and holding a “barsha” (spear), the two seated in wheelchairs performed the guard duty at the Ghanta Ghar entrance. As part of the religious punishment, they also performed “sewa” (service) at the Langar Hall, listened to the Gurbani kirtan and recited Sukhmani Sahib path (prayers) for one hour each.
Considering their health condition — Sukhbir has a hairline fracture in the foot and Dhindsa has old age-related ailments — the Takht had later exempted them verbally from cleaning toilets. Golden Temple general manager Bhagwant Singh Dhangera confirmed that the two had been spared the punishment of cleaning toilets and asked to perform “sewa”.
Other Akali leaders to receive the punishment, including Bikram Singh Majithia, Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Daljit Singh Cheema, cleaned toilets at the complex.
After their admission of guilt, the Takht in the presence of the five high priests had yesterday ordered Sukhbir, Dhindsa, Cheema, Sucha Singh Langah, Hira Singh Gabria, Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Gulzar Singh Ranike to clean toilets between 12 noon and 1 pm for two days, perform “sewa” at the Langar Hall, listen to the kirtan for an hour and recite Sukhmani Sahib path.
The Akali leaders had admitted to the “gunah” (sin) of taking controversial decisions during the party’s decade-long rule between 2007 and 2017 in an alliance with the BJP. The pardon granted to the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief in 2015 for sacrilegious acts remained at the centre of these decisions.
Sukhbir had admitted to facilitating the pardon by pressurising the then Takht Jathedars, followed by “misutilisation” of the “golak” money worth Rs 91 lakh to release advertisements justifying the decision through the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. The Takht had ordered realisation of the amount from the seven leaders.
They had also been directed to perform “sewa” at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Darbar Sahib Sri Muktsar Sahib and Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib for two days each.
The other Akali leaders, including Majithia, Grewal, Adesh Partap Singh, Sohan Singh Thandal, Sharanjit Singh and Janmeja Singh Sekhon, besides “rebel” group leaders Jagir Kaur, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Charanjit Singh and Sharanjit Singh were asked to clean toilets in the shrine complex, do dishes at the Langar Hall for a day and listen to the kirtan.
They were all held guilty of remaining silent spectators and not objecting to the controversial decisions while being part of the erstwhile SAD government. They had also been directed to clean the floor and wash utensils at gurdwaras closest to their respective place of stay for the next five days.
