Sukhbir, other SAD leaders complete tankhah, offer ‘ardas’ at Akal Takht

After successfully undergoing religious atonement for 10 days, the former Deputy CM and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and other ‘guilty’ Akali leaders paid obeisance and performed ‘ardas’ of penance at the Akal Takht today. Police personnel in large numbers and SGPC task force were deployed for security in and around the Golden Temple complex.

On December 2, five high priests headed by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh had pronounced the ‘tankhah’ from the podium of the Akal Takht. They were held responsible for the ‘gunah’ (sins), the term used by the Jathedar. They were punished for taking ‘controversial decisions’ during the SAD’s tenure in alliance with the BJP between 2007 and 2017 that had deeply hit the sanctity of the Panth, and lost the community’ faith leading to the party’s debacle on the political landscape too.

The ‘guilty’ Akalis were made to wear a plaque with Gurbani inscription pertaining to ‘admittance of guilt’ around their neck.

Sukhbir and other leaders, including SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder, former ministers Gulzar Singh Ranike, Daljit Singh Cheema and Maheshinder Singh Grewal, each offered ‘bheta’ of Rs 11,000 and ‘karah parshad’ worth Rs 11,000.

After the Akal Takht certified them to be absolved of all charges, they removed the plaques hung around their necks. Sukhbir, who was sitting in a wheelchair as he had suffered a hairline fracture on his foot, was also relieved of the ‘tankhaiya’ tag awarded by the Akal Takht on August 30.

Along with Sukhbir, 17 former Sikh Akali ministers, the core committee members or those having the Cabinet rank during the party’s erstwhile decade-long span were equally indicted. They had admitted the guilt about being mute spectators. Among them were Akali ‘rebels’, who also underwent ‘tankhah’. They had approached the Akal Takht on July 1 against Sukhbir and his coterie.

In compliance of two-day ‘sewa’ at the Golden Temple, Sukhbir and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, adorning blue chola (dress of sewadar) with the same ‘repentance’ plaque around their neck and holding a spear, sat at the entrance of the Golden Temple for an hour each on December 3 and 4, washed dishes in the kitchen, listened to Gurbani Kirtan and recited ‘Sukhmani Sahib’ prayers.

Owing to their health concerns, Sukhbir, who had a fractured foot, and Dhindsa, who is in his old age, were later exempted from cleaning toilets, unlike the other Akali leaders who undertook the ‘sewa’ as ordered by the Akal Takht.

On December 4, pro-Khalistan activist Narain Singh Chaura made an assassination bid on Sukhbir, who was undergoing ‘tankhah’ at the Golden Temple complex. However, the timely intervention of ASI Jasbir Singh and his colleagues deputed on the SAD leader’s security foiled it. Chaura is in police custody. He will be produced in court tomorrow after the culmination of the extended three-day remand.

On the following days, Sukhbir, Dhindsa, Sucha Singh Langah, Hira Singh Gabria, Bhunder, Ranike and Cheema underwent the same ‘tankhah’ for two days each at other significant religious shrines, including Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district, Darbar Sahib in Muktsar and the Fatehgarh Sahib gurdwara.