The Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht on Monday issued a tankhah (religious punishment) for Sukhbir Singh Badal over the “mistakes” made by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and its government in Punjab between 2007 and 2017, instructing him to serve as a ‘sewadar’ and clean utensils and shoes at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Giani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar of the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, announced the order from the faseel (podium) of the Akal Takht in Amritsar. He also instructed the SAD working committee to accept Sukhbir Badal’s resignation as party chief and to establish a committee to hold elections for the SAD president and office-bearers within six months.
The Jathedar further declared that the title of “Fakhre-e-Qaum,” which had been given to the late Parkash Singh Badal, the father of Sukhbir Badal, the previous chief minister, would be withdrawn.
Other Sikh figures who were ministers in the Akali government from 2007 to 2017 were also subject to religious punishment from the five Singh Sahibans (Sikh clergy).
Rebel leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Sukhbir Badal, who was in a wheelchair due to a leg injury, have been instructed to wait outside the Golden Temple for an hour each for two days while wearing the “sewadar” attire, according to Giani Raghbir Singh.
Additionally, for two days each, they are going to perform the “sewadar” service at Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, Darbar Sahib at Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib.
In addition to listening to “kirtan,” Sukhbir Badal and Sukhdev Dhindsa needed to spend an hour cleaning the shoes and utensils of the devotees at the Golden Temple.
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