AMRITSAR: This is for the first time that Akal Takht Sahib on Monday summoned the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and directed him to appear before the highest Sikh temporal seat with a written clarification on the alleged anti-Sikh decisions taken during his government. 

The Takht issued the direction two weeks after the dissenting Akali leaders raised banner of revolt against Sukhbir and handed over a letter to Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh mentioning four major anti-Sikh decisions taken during the government which was led by Sukhbir’s father Parkash Singh Badal. Sukhbir was deputy CM in that government. He was blamed for these decisions. 

During a meeting held on Monday at the Takht, Panj Singh Sahiban (highest Sikh presidium led by the Akal Takht jathedar) discussed the letter. Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, Takht Kesgarh Sahib jathedar Giani Sultan Singh, Sri Darbar Sahib granthi Giani Baljit Singh and Granthi of Akal Takht Sahib Mangal Singh were also present in the meeting.

In a resolution passed during the meeting, the Panj Singh Sahiban says, “As per the complaint received by Takht from some senior leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the SAD president did not represent Panthic sentiments. So, he has been asked to appear before Akal Takht Sahib in person with written clarification on these allegations in 15 days”.

This is being considered as a significant development as it is alleged that Sukhbir dictates the jathedars and their appointing authority, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). So, summoning him by the Akal Takht is being viewed as extraordinary decision. 

Moreover, the Panj Singh Sahiban also asked the SGPC clarify on the advertisements published in the newspapers on its behalf at the cost of Rs. 90 lakh in 2015 to justify the pardon granted to the rapist Dera Sirsa head Gurmeet Ram Rahim by Akal Takht. This pardon was granted on dictate of Sukhbir Badal. 

The rebel leaders who lodged the complaint included former SGPC president Jagir Kaur, former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former ministers Surjit Singh Rakhra and Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Charanjit Singh Brar, Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, and Gurpartap Singh Wadala.

The four moves they listed are: Revocation of the case registered against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim for the blasphemous act of imitating Guru Gobind Singh in 2007; failing to punish perpetrators of the Bargari sacrilege and police officials for the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing incidents; allowing the appointment of controversial IPS officer Sumedh Singh Saini as the Punjab DGP besides giving the wife of controversial police officer Izhar Alam the party ticket in the assembly elections and appointing her chief parliamentary secretary; and lastly, failing to deliver justice to the victims in fake encounter cases.

Former jathedar of Takht Sri Patna Sahib Giani Iqbal Singh also appeared there to apologize for violation of the Takht edict. The jathedar granted him ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment). He was held ‘tankhaya’ by Akal Takht for violation of its edict in 2022. Despite being declared ‘tankhaya’ (guilty of religious misconduct), he continued to serve as jathedar at Takht Patna Sahib.