AMRITSAR Verdict of the supreme Sikh temporal seat, Akal Takht Sahib, on sins of Sukhbir Badal and his father Parkash Badal, who have been on helm of Sikh politics and top institutions including Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for decades, is being interpreted and analyzing by all the sections of the Sikh nation. 

This verdict is being termed as ‘historic’ as this kind of gesture was exhibited by the Panj Singh Sahiban (Akal Takht Sahib jathedar-led five-member highest Sikh presidium which sits at the highest Sikh temporal seat to address key community issue) first time on December 2 in recent decades. They made a rare pronouncement against those who technically appoint them through the SGPC which manage administrative affairs of Sri Darbar Sahib complex, where Akal Takht Sahib is situated, as per the British-era Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925. 

While the Sikh segments lauded the verdict keeping in view of its several points, many have reservations over some points. The development is a hot topic not only for Sikhs but also for the Indian deep state which wants to keep control over the supreme Sikh institutions indirectly through their stooges duty of which has been performed by Badals so far. 

Veteran journalist Karamjit Singh who retired as assistant editor of Punjabi Tribune, interprets the verdict as surprising for all. As per him, it was a courageous pronouncement that upsets Indian deep state. “This verdict has restored lost glory of the status of the jathedars of the Sikh temporal seats to much extent”, he said while commenting on the development. 

Badals had damaged the glory, supremacy and dignity of Akal Takht Sahib, other Takhts and their jathedar by misusing them for their political ends. 

The way Panj Singh Sahiban made Sukhbir and his accomplices answerable on the sins they committed against Sikh Panth and confess their crimes in front of the highest Sikh temporal seat which was founded by sixth Guru Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib centuries ago, in presence of sangat (community members gathered in Sri Darbar Sahib complex) was unprecedented.  

Akal Takht Sahib jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh told Sukhbir to answer his questions in ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Before putting the questions, he repeatedly asked Sukhbir to not dare to tell a lie. 

The questions were: 

Have you committed sin of discarding the Panthic issues for which many Sikhs attained martyrdom during the Akali government?

Have you committed sin of promoting the cruel officers who killed Sikhs mercilessly and inhumanly, and allotting their kin tickets for elections?

Have you committed sin of withdrawing case registered against Dera Sirsa head who is enemy of Sikhs and Sikh faith?

Have you committed sin of calling jathedars at your residence at Chandigarh and asking them to grant pardon to the dera head?

Saroop of Guru Granth Sahib was stolen from gurdwara. Posters were pasted on walls to challenge the Sikhs. Your government did not trace the men behind this act. As a result, pages of Guru Granth Sahib were torn and scattered in the streets and drains. You shielded the perpetrators of the sacrilege. After this, two Sikh protesters were shot dead while peacefully protesting at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura. Have you committed this sin?

Have you made SGPC issue advertisements in newspapers to justify the pardon managed you?

Sukhbir gave answers of all questions in ‘yes’. However, he tried to interrupt Giani Raghbir Singh on the questions related to Dera Sirsa head by avoiding to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and tried to say, that “during our government, many mistakes were committed by us, for which we seek forgiveness”. Giani Raghbir Singh, however, specifically asked him to reply in ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

“…The way he was made to publicly and explicitly admit to specific gunah(sins), his acceptance in the community could be a big challenge and now much would depend upon his conduct”, reads the analysis story published by leading English Daily The Times of India. 

Another remarkable aspect of this verdict is that the highest Sikh temporal seat recognized the Sikh sentiments which consider Parkash Badal who used Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for decades as per aspirations of the Indian State and became Chief Minister of Punjab, as “Panth Da Gaddar” (traitor of Panth).  

‘Panth Ratan Fakhr-e-Qaum’ title which was bestowed upon Parkash Badal in 2011 by the then Akal Takht Sahib jathedar and controversial figure Gurbachan Singh, was stripped by the incumbent jathedars acting as per sentiments of Panth. This title was conferred by Gurbachan Singh against the sentiments of the Panth. It was strongly opposed by the community. Since then, demand had been raised for its revocation. 

“Revoking Panth Ratan Fakhr-e-Qaum title tarnished his political legacy”: It was a comment of The Times of India story. 

Leaders of some Panthic organizations including Sikh Youth Federation Bhindranwale (SYFB) interpreted the verdict in a balanced way. In a nutshell, they termed it triumph of Khalsa Panth and debacle of Badals. “All eyes were on the decision of the jathedars. The moves of withdrawing ‘Panth Ratan Fakhr-e-Qaum’ title bestowed upon Parkash Badal by the then Akal Takht Sahib jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh in 2011 and making traitor of Panth Sukhbir Badal confess his sins were commendable”, said Ranjit Singh and Bhupinder Singh, leaders of the SYFB. 

The incumbent jathedars did not only correct the wrong of their predecessors, but also took action against them. For granting pardon to anti-Sikh Dera Sirsa chief in case of blasphemy, the Panj Singh Sahiban asked the SGPC to withdraw the facilities being provided to Gurbachan Singh even after this retirement, besides ordering transfer of fellow former jathedar Gurmukh Singh. Now, demand is being raised for making the incumbent SGPC office-bearers including president Harjinder Singh Dhami answerable on providing these facilities to Gurbachan Singh and keeping Gurmukh Singh on a key post. 

Reservations have emerged on the pronouncement on the political fate of Sukhbir Badal amid the demand for imposition of political bar on him, though no question arose on the religious punishments including cleaning of devotees’ toilets at Sri Darbar Sahib and orders for Sukhbir Badal and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa to act as “pehredars” (sentry)  at the entrance of the shrine. 

“The SAD leadership has lost the moral right to give political patronage to the Sikh Panth because of their sins. So, a panel comprising SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, former SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar, Iqbal Singh Jhoonda, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umaidpuri and Satwant Kaur, daughter of Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh, is constituted to initiate recruitment in the party and elect president and other office-bearers in six months”, reads the resolution of Panj Singh Sahiban in this regard. 

“The working committee of the party is directed to accept resignations of all the leaders, including Sukhbir, in three days”, added Giani Raghbir Singh asking the Sukhbir camp and the rebel group camp to bury the hatchet and forge unity by discarding jealous and arrogance.

The decision about the political fate evoked mixed reactions. “Sukhbir has committed heinous crimes. So, he should have been excommunicated from Panth. After confessing his sins which damaged the entire Sikh nation and its supreme institutions, Sukhbir has lost the right to practice Sikh politics and manage affairs of the historic gurdwaras through the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Like Virsa Singh Valtoha, he should also have been expelled from the party for 10 years”, added leaders of the Sikh Youth Federation Bhindranwala. 

The Times of India analyzed it as “It also politically damages Sukhbir Singh Badal with the comment “this leadership has lost the moral right to lead the Akali Dal”. However, it still leaves a lifeline to him as there is no political bar on him, except for acceptance of his resignation for now. In a way, Akal Takht leaves Sukhbir’s political fate open to the people’s court, in place of sealing it”. 

Pertinently, veteran English journalist Sukhdev Singh interpreted this entire development in single line: 

“High on theatre, low on delivery. Yet a significant, welcome progress”. 

However, some Sikh segments are also assuming that the entire episode was meant for using Akal Takht Sahib just to revive Badals who have been rejected by the community. 

Hardeep Singh