Mon Dec 02 13:23:04 UTC 2024: **Sikh Religious Body Orders Former Akali Dal Chief to Perform Menial Tasks as Punishment**
AMRITSAR, INDIA – Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has been ordered to perform menial tasks as punishment by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism. The religious body declared Badal “tankhaiya,” meaning guilty of religious misconduct, for actions taken during his party’s tenure from 2007 to 2017. These actions include the failure to punish those responsible for sacrilege incidents in 2015 and pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2007 blasphemy case.
On December 3rd, Badal, along with other core committee members and former cabinet ministers, will be required to clean bathrooms for an hour and serve food in the langar (community kitchen) for another hour. He will then be required to recite the Sukhmani Sahib and sit outside Sri Darbar Sahib wearing a plaque declaring him a “tankhaiya.”
The Akal Takht also issued a three-day deadline for the acceptance of resignations from SAD leaders who rebelled against Badal’s leadership. These rebellious leaders were also reprimanded and urged to remain within the party. The decision comes after Badal himself requested the Akal Takht to impose a punishment, citing the delay in issuing it since August 30th, when the initial declaration was made. The SAD’s poor performance in recent elections and internal party conflicts also played a significant role in this decision.
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