Sukhbir Singh Badal declared ‘tankhaiya’ by Shri Akal Takht Sahib

PTC News Desk: In a significant religious and political development, Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal authority in Sikhism, has declared Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal as ‘tankhaiya’—a term denoting religious punishment. This decision, announced on Friday, is a major turn of events for the prominent Sikh leader.

Religious Punishment and Call for Apologies

The ruling comes amidst accusations of misconduct during Badal’s tenure as both the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal and as deputy chief minister of Punjab. Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, the head of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, criticised Badal for decisions that allegedly harmed the Sikh community.

Alongside Badal’s sentence, other former ministers from the SAD-led government who served between 2007 and 2017 have been instructed to issue formal apologies within 15 days.

In response to the verdict, Sukhbir Singh Badal had previously announced Balwinder Singh Bhundar as the working president of the Shiromani Akali Dal on Thursday, ahead of the anticipated ruling.

Mandate for Forgiveness

Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh has mandated that Sukhbir Singh Badal must appear before Sri Akal Takht Sahib within the next 15 days to seek forgiveness. The Jathedar emphasised that Badal should approach the Takht with humility and express sincere remorse for his alleged transgressions.

This decision underscores a broader concern within the Sikh community regarding accountability and governance. The ruling reflects ongoing efforts to address issues of leadership and ethics within the Sikh community and highlights the continuing role of Sri Akal Takht Sahib in maintaining moral and religious standards.

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