Pronouncing 'tankhah' (religious punishment) for Sukhbir Singh Badal and other leaders for the "mistakes" committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017, the Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht on Monday directed the senior Akali leader to wash dishes and clean shoes at the Golden Temple in Amritsar as a 'sewadar'.
Pronouncing the order from the 'faseel' (podium) of the Akal Takht in Amritsar, Jathedar of the highest temporal seat for Sikhs, Giani Raghbir Singh, also announced to withdraw the title of 'Fakhre-e-Qaum' bestowed upon former chief minister late Parkash Singh Badal, father of Sukhbir Badal.
Five-time Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal passed away in April last year.
The Jathedar also directed the working committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to accept the resignation of Sukhbir Badal as party chief, besides forming a committee to hold elections for the post of SAD president and other office-bearers within six months.
The five 'Singh Sahibans' (Sikh clergy) also pronounced religious punishment for other Sikh leaders who served as ministers in the Akali Cabinet and were part of the core committee of the party from 2007 to 2017.
Giani Raghbir Singh said Sukhbir Badal and rebel leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa have been asked to sit outside the Golden Temple wearing the dress of 'sewadar' and holding a spear for one hour each for two days.
They will also wear small boards around their necks acknowledging their "misdeeds", and perform the service of 'sewadar' at Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, Darbar Sahib at Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib for two days each.
Both Sukhbir Badal and Sukhdev Dhindsa have been asked to clean the utensils and shoes of devotees at the Golden Temple for one hour each, besides listening to 'kirtan'.
Sukhbir Badal came in a wheelchair because of a fractured leg, and so did Sukhdev Dhindsa due to age-related issues.
Before the pronouncement of the edict, Sukhbir Badal admitted the mistakes, including pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2007 blasphemy case during the SAD rule in Punjab.
The punishment came nearly three months after Sukhbir Badal was declared 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht.
The Jathedar also directed Akali leaders Sucha Singh Langah, Hira Singh Gabria, Balwinder Singh Bhundar, Daljit Singh Cheema and Gulzar Singh Ranike to clean washrooms at the Golden Temple from 12 noon to 1 pm on December 3, and then clean utensils at the community kitchen after taking bath.
They will also listen to 'kirtan' for one hour, the Jathedar said.
Other Akali leaders, including Bibi Jagir Kaur, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Bikram Singh Majithia, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Charanjit Singh Atwal and Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, were also told to clean washrooms at the Golden Temple for one hour.
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