Sukhbir Badal arrives at Golden Temple on first day of his penance

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal
| Photo Credit: PTI

Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday (December 3, 2024) morning arrived at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on his first day of penance. He was seen wearing a plaque around his neck while sitting in a wheelchair because of a fractured leg.

This comes after he was declared a ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) in August by Akal Takht, which announced religious punishment for him. Badal, who served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab from 2007 to 2017, wiil now take up ‘sewadar’ work – washing utensils, cleaning shoes and bathrooms – at the Golden Temple.

Along with Mr. Badal, several other Akali Dal leaders, who were part of the SAD-led government between 2007 and 2017, found guilty of religious misconduct, were made to put on plaques around their necks with a note mentioning their confession of sins as the supreme seat equated their mistakes to sins.

The decisions came as part of punishment from five high priests headed by Akal Takht Jathedar (chief priest) Giani Raghbir Singh, who pronounced the punishment in Amritsar at the meeting of Sikh clergies held to address ‘Panthic’ (Sikh community) and SAD-related issues. On August 30, Mr. Badal was declared guilty of religious misconduct for several decisions that hurt the sentiments and interests of the Panth (Sikh community) when the SAD was in power between 2007 and 2017 in Punjab.

Former MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said, “The order for ‘sewa’ is an order for me. This is the order of the Almighty that has been pronounced for me by Akal Takht… I will sit by the gate, I will also offer my services at ‘langar’…”