Sukhbir Singh Badal, who recently resigned as president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today arrived at the Golden Temple, Amritsar on a wheelchair to serve the religious punishment after the Akal Takht, (highest temporal authority of the Sikhs), found him guilty of taking “wrong political decisions” when his party was in power in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.
The former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab was also wearing a plaque in his neck acknowledging his “misdeeds” and holding a spear. As part of the punishment, the other SAD leaders who were also guilty, cleaned washrooms, wash utensils, and undertake other religious duties to atone for their actions, which included granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in 2015.
Other party leaders, including Majithia, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Charanjit Singh Atwal and Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, also cleaned washrooms at the Golden Temple for an hour. A video is also doing rounds on social media of SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia washing utensils as part of his punishment. They also listened to ‘kirtan’ for one hour.
Citing the same controversies during the Akali regime, the Akal Takht has also withdrawn the prestigious title of ‘Fakhre-e-Qaum’ (Pride of the Community) conferred on to former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who died in April 2023.
Notably, the punishments came after days-long proceedings by Akal Takht in which Sukhbir Badal admitted to playing a role in the controversial pardon granted to Gurmeet Ram Rahim, a decision that sparked widespread criticism within the Sikh community.
The Akal Takht held Badal accountable for favouring Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in the 2015 sacrilege case involving the Guru Granth Sahib.
On August 30 this year, Akal Takht Sahib had declared Sukhbir Singh Badal guilty of religious misconduct, a move that sparked significant political and religious attention.
The Akal Takht’s Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh instructed Badal to spend time at various gurdwaras in Punjab, including the Golden Temple, Takht Shri Keshgarh Sahib, Takht Shri Damdama Sahib, Darbar Sahib (Muktsar), and Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib. He was required to sit outside the gurdwaras in sewadar robes for two days each, wearing a special plaque.
This decision is a part of a broader reckoning for actions taken by the SAD-led Punjab Government from 2007 to 2017. Alongside Badal, several other prominent Sikh leaders from his government were also declared ‘Tankhaiya‘, a term denoting religious misconduct in Sikhism.
What Does ‘Tankhaiya‘ Mean?
In Sikhism, being declared ‘Tankhaiya‘ refers to an individual being found guilty of breaching the religious code. The term, rooted in the traditions of the faith, involves a public acknowledgment of wrongdoing, where the accused must seek forgiveness before the community (Sangat), in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
This is followed by a punishment which typically includes acts of service, such as cleaning the Gurdwaras, washing utensils, and other tasks that demonstrate humility and contrition.
Being declared Tankhaiya can also result in a religious boycott, where the individual is shunned by the Sikh community and prohibited from participating in religious gatherings or events. If the person refuses to comply with the punishment, they face further social boycott.
