Sukhbir Badal Sentenced by Akal Takht
The Akal Takht, the supreme temporal authority of Sikhs, has sentenced former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to cleaning duties. The sentence includes scrubbing kitchens and bathrooms at Gurdwaras, including Amritsar’s Golden Temple, on December 3. This punishment follows his involvement in supporting Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim during the 2015 Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege case.
Punishment Details
Sukhbir Badal, along with Akali Dal leaders, will clean bathrooms at the Golden Temple between 12 noon and 1 pm. Afterward, they will bathe and serve langar. His father, the late Parkash Singh Badal, has been stripped of the Fakhr-e-Qaum honor awarded in 2011 for community service.
Apology and Tankhah
Sukhbir Badal had submitted an unconditional apology to the Akal Takht, admitting his mistakes. Earlier, the Sikh high priests, led by Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, announced the quantum of tankhah (religious punishment). The jathedar also urged the Akali Dal to reorganize its leadership, suggesting a working committee accept Sukhbir Badal’s resignation as party chief within six months.
Religious Misconduct Charges
In August, the Akal Takht declared Sukhbir Badal a “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct). The charges stemmed from his party’s actions during its tenure from 2007 to 2017, including granting a controversial pardon to Gurmeet Ram Rahim. The pardon had sparked clashes between Dera followers and Sikhs across Punjab.
ALSO READ : Sharjeel Imam’s sister Farah Nishat Becomes Judge in Bihar
In 2007, Gurmeet Ram Rahim was excommunicated by the Akal Takht for imitating Sikh Gurus in a ceremony. Sukhbir Badal allegedly influenced the decision to pardon the Dera chief, leading to widespread outrage among the Sikh community.
Moving Forward
This strict punishment underscores the Akal Takht’s commitment to upholding Sikh values and traditions. The verdict also signals the need for accountability among political leaders within the community
for more updates follow ANN MEDIA on facebook , X , Instagram and Linkedin
