In a significant act of penance, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal commenced his religious punishment at Amritsar’s Golden Temple. This action follows the Akal Takht’s directive concerning past sacrilege incidents during the SAD’s governance.
Akal Takht’s Directive
The Akal Takht, the supreme temporal authority of the Sikh community, found Badal guilty of religious misconduct. The charges pertained to decisions made during the SAD’s administration from 2007 to 2017, notably the controversial pardon of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2007 blasphemy case. This pardon had ignited widespread outrage among Sikhs.
Commencement of ‘Tankhah’
Adhering to the ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) prescribed by the Akal Takht, Badal began serving as a ‘sewadar’ (volunteer) at the Golden Temple. Despite a fractured leg necessitating a wheelchair, he participated in duties such as cleaning and assisting devotees. Visuals depicted him wearing a plaque around his neck, acknowledging past misdeeds, and holding a spear, symbolizing his commitment to atonement.
Collective Accountability
Other senior SAD leaders, including former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia, also undertook assigned punishments. Majithia was observed washing utensils in the community kitchen, fulfilling his part of the ‘tankhah’. These acts underscore the collective responsibility acknowledged by the party’s leadership for past actions that affected the Sikh community.
The Akal Takht’s decision to impose such penalties is rooted in historical precedents where Sikh leaders are held accountable for actions contravening religious tenets. The 2015 incidents of sacrilege, including the theft of a ‘bir’ (copy) of the Guru Granth Sahib and subsequent desecration in Bargari, had led to significant unrest and demands for justice within the Sikh populace.
