Akal Takht indicts Sukhbir Badal, tells him to clean toilets and serve langar in Golden Temple

The proceedings, held at the Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs at the Golden Temple, extended beyond punitive measures, with the Jathedar also asking the splintered party to stop squabbling and rebuild the over 100-year-old regional party, signalling a significant political shift within the community.

In an unprecedented move, the Jathedar also revoked the title of Fakhr-e-Qaum (Pride of the Nation) awarded to former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Ironically, he was the first political leader to be conferred with this title.

As part of the punishment, Sukhbir Badal and core committee members of the Akali Dal, including cabinet ministers from 2015, were ordered to clean toilets, serve in the langar (community kitchen), perform Nitnem (daily Sikh prayers), and recite Sukhmani Sahib. Placards were also placed around their necks as part of the sentence.

Due to health concerns, Sukhbir Badal and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa were instructed to serve as gatekeepers at the Guru’s abode for two days, donning traditional servant attire and holding spears as a mark of humility.

Additionally, the Jathedar announced that all facilities provided to former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh — who had pardoned Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ran Rahim, ostensibly under the influence of the Badals — would be withdrawn, barring him from speaking at public events. He also directed the recovery of funds spent on advertisements related to Dera Sacha Sauda, including interest, to be collected from Sukhbir Badal, Sucha Singh Langah, Gulzar Singh, Daljit Singh Cheema, Balwinder Singh Bhundar, and Heera Singh Gabria.

The punishment stems from allegations that the Akali leadership maintained ties with Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim despite his excommunication by the Sikh community in 2007. Later, the leadership allegedly facilitated his pardon by the Akal Takht.

The party leadership also faced criticism for failing to address key panthic issues when they were in power between 2007 and 2017. These included incidents of sacrilege, and police firing at Kotkapura as well as the appointment of DGP Sumedh Singh Saini, who was accused of rights violations during the period of militancy in Punjab.

During the proceedings, Jathedar Raghbir Singh pointedly questioned Badal, often asking him to answer in yes or no when the latter tried to express his regrets at his actions. Badal admitted to inviting the then Akal Takht Jathedar to his residence before he granted a pardon to Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

It was an unprecedented public inquisition the kind the Akal Takht has not seen in the recent past.

Badal also clarified that the decisions were made without external pressure. He and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa admitted to their mistakes in response to the Jathedar’s queries.

The Akal Takht Sahib, as the supreme Sikh authority, holds the power to summon any Sikh for transgressions and impose religious punishments, known as Tankhah.

Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, said, “When the Akali Dal came to power, it was expected to heal the wounds of the Sikh community, but sadly, those wounds were deepened.”

BJP state president Sunil Jakhar welcomed the decision in a post on X. “The historic hearing held at Sri Akal Takht Sahib today has further elevated the stature of this premier institution of the Panth. The decision announced from Sri Akal Takht Sahib today has not only enhanced the respect for this institution but also instilled pride in the community, reaffirming that our Guru Sahiban established such a powerful and supreme authority to guide those straying from the Guru’s path back onto the righteous way,” he posted.

The questions posed by Jathedar Raghbir Singh to Sukhbir Badal, to which he responded in affirmative:

1. While being part of the Akali government, have you committed the sin of ignoring the sacrifices of thousands of martyrs on panthic issues?

2. Have you committed the sin of promoting officials responsible for the killing of thousands of Sikhs or giving party tickets to their family members for elections?

3. Have you committed the sin of getting cases against Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim—an enemy of Sikhs and Sikhism—cancelled?

4. Have you committed the sin of granting a pardon to the Dera Sacha Sauda head without his seeking it, and reportedly calling the Jathedars to your Chandigarh residence for this purpose?

5. Later, when the sacrilege of Shri Guru Granth Sahib occurred, did you shelter the accused? Following that, two Sikh protestors were killed in the Behbal Kalan firing. Do you confess to this sin, which took place during your government?

6. Have you committed the sin of misusing the Guru’s Golak by instructing the SGPC to incur expenses on newspaper advertisements to justify the pardon granted to the Dera head?

7. Have you edited the pardon letter of the Dera Sacha Sauda head by adding the phrase “Khima Jachak” (seeking forgiveness)?