Sukhbir Badal declared a ‘tankhaiya’ for violating Sikh religious code

Among other allegations, Sukhbir Singh Badal was accused of violating the Akal Takht Sahib edict issued against Dera Sacha Sauda in Haryana’s Sirsa in 2007. While no Sikh is supposed to have any relationship with Dera Sacha Sauda, under Sukhbir Singh Badal’s presidency, the SAD(B) got political support from Dera.

Akali Dal leaders who were cabinet ministers during the SAD(B)-BJP government in Punjab from 2007-17 have been also asked by Akal Takht Sahib to appear before it.

From favouring Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim to influencing the Akal Takht to appointing Sumedh Saini as Punjab director general of police in 2012, Sukhbir Sigh Badal admitted to his mistakes in a letter to the Jathedar Raghbir Singh in response to the allegations levelled against him by the rebel leaders who had been expelled from the SAD. He also sought atonement from the Sikh community’s supreme temporal seat.

Without mentioning any allegation directly, he said whatever had been written against him or the party by the rebels, he sought unconditional forgiveness from Guru Sahib.

On July 1, rebel SAD leaders — including former MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Jagir Kaur, former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, and senior leaders Gurpratap Wadala and Surjit Singh Rakhra — appeared before the Akal Takht Jathedar and apologised for the “mistakes” committed when the party was in power in Punjab between 2007 and 2017.

Acting on a letter from rebels, the Akal Takht Jathedar summoned Sukhbir Singh Badal and sought his clarification on the allegations. Badal then visited the Akal Takht Sahib on July 25 and submitted his response to the allegations.