Days before Akal Takht to take call on ‘tankhah’ for Badal, song declares him ‘saajish da shikaar’

“Saajish da shikaar ho gaya apna Sukhbir ve…aukhe vele chhad gaye ohna de mar gaye zameer ve (Our Sukhbir has become a victim of conspiracy…in difficult times they left him…their conscience is dead),” goes the lyrics of the song with its lyrics superimposed on images of Badal, and rebel Akali leaders Bibi Jagir Kaur, Prem Singh Chandumajra and Parminder Dhindsa among others.

While Akali Dal distanced itself from the song, Jagir Kaur issued a sharp reaction saying that Badal has been declared a tankhaiya by the Akal Takht Sahib and “the song being released ahead of the December 2 meeting, is a direct challenge to the Akal Takht Sahib”.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, on August 30, had declared Badal ‘tankhaiya’ but had not pronounced the ‘tankhah’. The Jathedar has summoned Badal, the entire Akali Dal Cabinet during 2007 to 2017, the SAD’s core committee and the 2015 internal committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee on December 2. He has also asked Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami to remain present on that day as the Sikh clergy may announce the religious punishment that day.

Akali Dal spokeperson Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said, “We don’t know anything about the song. If any singer has released any song independently, what can we do? Neither we approached him nor did he. From time to time, lyricists, singers keep on composing and singing songs on various subjects. The party can’t be held accountable for that”.

Mittal, meanwhile, told The Indian Express that he has written, composed and sung the song. “I visit Punjab regularly and have seen many projects in Mohali, Patiala or and other places that were started by Badal. I felt that Badal is actually being targeted by rival political parties and even his own partymen who have now left him. So, I wrote this song,” said Mittal.

Claiming to be “basically a lyricist”, Mittal said he written songs on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi among others. “More than 200.of my songs are on politics. I am an aware citizen and I use music as a medium to air my opinion. (With song on Badal) I have not challenged anyone. The people who are targeting him now (rebels) were part of the government when he was in power. Why they remained silent at that time? So, he definitely has become a victim of conspiracy. My song is all truth,” added Mittal.

Earlier, Cheema had asked party leaders not to make any comment regarding the tabkhaiya issue.

“Keeping in view the respect, honour and dignity of supreme temporal authority of Sikhs, the SAD appeals to all the party leaders, workers, spokesmen and social media activists of IT cell not to comment or issue any statement regarding the issue under kind consideration of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Spokespersons should also avoid discussions on the issue in the media. In addition all other instructions given by the Takhat Sahib should be strictly followed in letter & spirit by every one,” Cheema had said.

After being declared ‘tankhaiya’, Badal had appeared before the Akal Takht and tendered an apology for the “mistakes” committed by his party and the party’s government during 2007 to 2017.

On October 22, a SAD delegation had met the Akal Takht jathedar seeking relief for Badal, specifically seeking permission for him to contest the byelection from Gidderbaha Assembly seat and to campaign for the November 20 bypolls.

The jathedar denied any relief to Badal and subsequently, on October 24, the SAD announced that it would not contest the bypolls to the four Assembly seats in Punjab.