North News
Chandigarh, August 30
In a significant political development, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal was declared “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal authority, on Friday. The decision comes in response to mistakes made by the SAD and its government during their tenure from 2007 to 2017. In addition to Sukhbir Badal, the Akal Takht has also summoned Sikh members of the cabinet who served during the SAD-BJP regimes.
Sukhbir Badal had appeared before the Akal Takht on July 24, where he submitted a written explanation to Giani Raghbir Singh, who had summoned him following serious allegations made by rebel SAD leaders. These allegations include the revocation of a blasphemy case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2007, the failure to punish those responsible for the Bargari sacrilege and police officials involved in the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing incidents, and the appointment of controversial IPS officer Sumedh Singh Saini as Punjab DGP.
Announcing the verdict from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh stated, “As Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Singh Badal made decisions that severely damaged the image of the Panth and greatly weakened the SAD. Until Sukhbir Singh Badal appears before the Takht Sahib as a humble Sikh in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, Sikh sangat, and Panj Singh Sahiban to apologize for his offenses, he is declared tankhaiya.”
