The Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority for Sikhs, has ordered former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to perform cleaning duties at Gurdwaras (Sikh temple), including the Golden Temple, due to his support for Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in the 2015 Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege case.
The sentence, which also requires him to clean bathrooms and serve langar (food served to people at gurudwaras) on December 3, is part of a “tankhah” (religious punishment) for his misconduct.
Sukhbir Badal, who is wheelchair-bound, along with other senior leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) who held cabinet positions in 2015, will carry out these duties following Badal’s unconditional apology and admission of his mistakes.
Additionally, the Akal Takht jathedar, Giani Raghbir Singh, announced the revocation of the “Fakhr-e-Qaum” (Pride of the Sikh Community) title previously awarded to Sukhbir Badal’s late father, Parkash Singh Badal, for his contributions to the Sikh community.
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In August, the Akal Takht had declared Sukhbir Badal a “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct) for granting a pardon to Gurmeet Ram Rahim during the SAD government’s tenure from 2007 to 2017, a decision that led to violent clashes between Dera followers and Sikhs.
The jathedar also called on the SAD’s working committee to accept Sukhbir Badal’s resignation as party chief and to reorganize the party within six months.
