Sukhbir Singh Badal Declared 'Tankhaiya' by Akal Takht for Religious Misconduct

The Akal Takht has declared Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal 'tankhaiya' for religious misconduct during his party's rule from 2007 to 2017. Badal, following the declaration, expressed his acceptance and promised to appear before the Akal Takht to apologize for the mistakes and seek forgiveness.

The Akal Takht on Friday declared Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal 'tankhaiya' -- guilty of religious misconduct -- for the ''mistakes'' committed by his party and the party's government from 2007 to 2017. Following the declaration, Badal stated he bows his head and accepts the order of the Akal Takht.

In a post on X in Punjabi, Badal announced he will soon appear before the Akal Takht to apologize. After a meeting of the five Sikh head priests, the jathedar of the Akal Takht Gyani Raghbir Singh asked Badal to appear before the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs within 15 days to seek apology for the decisions he took as the deputy chief minister and as SAD chief that deeply harmed the image of the 'Panth' and caused damage to Sikh interests. Badal would remain a 'tankhaiya' until he apologizes for his ''sins'', Singh said while pronouncing the verdict.

Sikh community members who served as ministers in the Akali government from 2007-17 were also directed to appear at the Akal Takht in person to submit their written explanation within 15 days. Incidents related to the theft of a 'bir (copy)' of the Guru Granth Sahib, sacrilegious posters, and torn pages of the holy book found at Bargari in 2015 took place when the Shiromani Akali Dal was in power. The Sikh clergy, including Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, directed Badal to apologize for these 'mistakes' that damaged Sikh interests.

(With inputs from agencies.)