Sukhbir Badal to Clean Toilets at Golden Temple as Akal Takht’s Punishment for Sacrilege Case

GG News Bureau
Amritsar, 2nd Dec. The Akal Takht, the apex temporal authority of Sikhs, has sentenced former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to perform cleaning duties in Gurdwaras, including the Golden Temple, for his role in supporting Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in the 2015 Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege case. The sentence also includes cleaning bathrooms and serving langar on December 3.

Sukhbir Badal, who is wheelchair-bound, and senior leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) who held cabinet positions in 2015, will carry out the duties as part of their “tankhah” (religious punishment for misconduct). The Akal Takht jathedar, Giani Raghbir Singh, announced the sentence after Mr. Badal tendered an unconditional apology, admitting to his mistakes.

The jathedar also stripped the late Parkash Singh Badal, former Punjab Chief Minister and Sukhbir Badal’s father, of the “Fakhr-e-Qaum” (Pride of the Sikh Community) title awarded to him in 2011 for his contributions to the Sikh community.

The Akal Takht had previously declared Sukhbir Badal a “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct) in August for the pardoning of Gurmeet Ram Rahim during the SAD government’s tenure from 2007 to 2017. The pardon had sparked violent clashes between Dera followers and Sikhs.

The jathedar also urged the SAD’s working committee to accept Sukhbir Badal’s resignation as party chief and reorganize the party within six months.