Chandigarh: Sukhbir Singh Badal’s stature as president of Punjab’s Sikh panthic party, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), faced a massive setback after the Akal Takht, the supreme Sikh seat of authority, declared Badal “tankhaiya” – guilty of violating the Sikh religious code.
The declaration, announced on Friday (August 30), was on account of decisions he took as deputy chief minister and SAD chief from 2007 to 2017 that according to the Akal Takht “deeply harmed the image of the panth and caused damage to Sikh interests apart from the SAD’s own downfall”.
While the Akal Takht did not give the details of Badal’s controversial decisions, a letter by SAD rebels in July blamed Badal for trying to have the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim pardoned by the Akal Takht in an old case involving his alleged blasphemous bid to imitate the tenth Sikh Guru.
In that letter, Badal was also blamed for his lack of proper action in handling incidents related to the sacrilege of holy the Sikh text, the Guru Granth Sahib, in 2015 despite holding the home department portfolio. Two Sikh protesters were then killed in police firing, leading to major resentment within the community.
Several SAD and Congress Sikh leaders in the past were declared tankhaiya and later atoned by offering karah prashad, reciting Gurbani or hymns, and performing services like washing utensils and cleaning shoes as part of their “punishment”.
But the situation in Badal’s case is different, as his detractors point out. Given that the charges against him are grave, all eyes are on the quantum of ‘punishment’ against him.
Explaining the issue, Sikh author and senior journalist Jagtar Singh told The Wire that declaring someone tankhaiya is a centuries-old Sikh practice of religious indictment. The next step is that their tankha, or punishment, must be quantified.
In Badal’s case, he said that the credibility of the Akal Takht is at stake. If Sikhs reject the decision taken by the Akal Takht jathedar just like in the Gurmeet Ram Rahim pardon row in 2015, then the supreme Sikh institution may face another setback.
In 2015, the decision by the Akal Takht in pardoning the Dera chief for his alleged blasphemous act sparked a major row. The decision was later revoked.
Jagtar emphasised that the bottom line here is that the Akal Takht’s decision in Badal’s case must have acceptability among Sikhs at large. Otherwise, the issue will remain alive.
Rumbling in SAD, rebels aggressive
Badal has kept a low profile ever since the Akal Takht’s decision.
Much of the party’s work is being handled by Balwinder Singh Bhunder, a close Badal aide who was elevated to post of the SAD’s working president a day before the Akal Takht pronounced its decision on Badal.
Badal, sources said, is in wait-and-watch mode, hoping for an amicable solution to the biggest challenge of his political life so far.
He has already appeared in person before the Akal Takht and submitted a written apology. He is said to be the first serving president of the grand old party of Sikhs to be declared tankhaiya.
On the contrary, anti-Badal sentiments have been sharpened by SAD rebels, who have been up in arms against him ever since the party’s dismal performance in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.
One of the rebel leaders, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, told the media that Badal should resign from the post of SAD president immediately if he really respected the Akal Takht.
He said that as tankhaiya, Badal cannot hold any position, participate in social functions, offer ardas in a gurdwara or pay obeisance till he is accepted after undergoing punishment.
“The SAD constitution also bars any tankhaiya from holding the president’s post. He has ruined the Akali Dal due to his lust for power,” he added.
