Punjab, August 31: Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal was labeled “tankhaiya” by the Akal Takht on Friday. He was found guilty of breaking the Sikh religious code due to his “mistakes” as deputy chief minister and party chief from 2007 to 2017 as well as his decisions that “deeply harmed the image of the ‘Panth’ and caused damage to Sikh interests.”
Problem increases for Sukhbir Badal
The five high priests of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal chair of the Sikhs, decided to declare Badal as “tankhaiya.” After reading the directive, the chief religious’ leader, Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, ordered that Badal come before the Akal Takht in 15 days to make apologies.
“SAD’s status has declined, and its effects have been detrimental since Sukhbir Badal took office in 2007 as president and deputy chief minister. The interests of Sikhs have suffered. Until Sukhbir Badal confesses his sins, he will continue to be a “tankhaiya,” Jathedar declared.
The Sikh leaders who served as members of the Cabinet in the Akali Dal-led governments from 2007 to 2017 were also instructed by the chief priest of Akal Takht to show up in person and provide a written explanation within 15 days.
Badal said, “I humbly bow my head and accept the command issued by the Sri Akal Takht Sahib,” in a post on X shortly after the announcement. I’m going to ask for forgiveness by going before Sri Akal Takht Sahib shortly.
No Sikh may speak to or maintain a relationship with someone who Akal Takht has deemed to be “tankhayia.” The excommunication of such a person can only terminate with the fulfillment of atonement in accordance with the verdict declared by the Akal Takht.
Along with other political figures who were labeled “tankhayia” by the Akal Takht are former Union Minister Buta Singh, former Chief Minister of Punjab Surjit Singh Barnala, and former President Giani Zail Singh. The majority of political figures who previously declared tankhayia had difficult political careers.
Despite appointing veteran politician Balwinder Singh Bhunder as the party’s working president on Thursday, Badal remains the president of the Akali Dal.
The Jathedar hid information about the specific “mistakes” that Badal and his group had made. But in 2015, incidents including the removal of a “bir” from the Guru Ganth Sahib and the placing of handwritten, sacrilegious posters at Bargari in Faridkot happened while Badal was deputy chief minister. Two protesters were murdered by police firing during following demonstrations; these two occurrences had major consequences for Akali Dal, which saw their number of seats cut to 17 in the 2017 state elections and then to three in 2022.
Prior to this, Badal, without mentioning the mistakes, had sought “unconditional forgiveness” and had also submitted his explanation after the Jathedar asked him to appear in person before the Akal Takht following allegations levelled by the party’s rebel leaders, who have asked him to step down.
