Akali Dal chief Badal declared ‘tankhaiya' by Harimandir Ji
Sikh community
, the high priests of Takhat Shri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib on Saturday pronounced Shiromani
Akali Dal
chief
Sukhbir Singh Badal
'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious punishment) on Saturday.
The declaration came after Badal repeatedly failed to appear before the religious body despite multiple summons.
This is the second time Badal has faced such religious censure, following a similar pronouncement by the Akal Takht in Aug last year. The Akal Takht had previously awarded 'tankhah' (religious punishment) for alleged misdeeds during the Shiromani Akali Dal govt's tenure in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.
The current controversy stems from a complex dispute between two major Sikh temporal seats.
On May 21, the Akal Takht barred Takhat Shri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib's Jathedar Giani Baldev Singh and additional head granthi from performing 'panthic' duties. In response, Takhat Shri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib declared the jathedars of Akal Takht and Takht Damdama Sahib as 'tankhaiya' and summoned Badal for his alleged role as a conspirator.
Overruling Akal Takht's order, Giani Baldev Singh, pronounced the verdict.
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He said Badal was given multiple opportunities to present his case. "Despite three chances, including a 20-day extension requested by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, Badal failed to appear, clearly indicating his involvement in the controversial events," Singh said.
The decision has sparked concern within the Sikh community's leadership. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami, in a statement issued in Chandigarh, criticised the move, describing it as beyond Patna Sahib's jurisdiction and potentially divisive for the Sikh community.
He emphasised that such actions could undermine the supreme authority of the Akal Takht and create unnecessary internal discord.
"While Takhat Shri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib commands great respect in the Sikh world, the authority on 'panthic' matters traditionally rests with the Akal Takht," Dhami said. He reminded that historically, 'panthic' issues are addressed collectively by the five Singh Sahibs under Akal Takht's leadership. The five Singh Sahibs are: Singh Sahib Bhai Baldev Singh Jathedar (head granthi);
Singh Sahib Bhai Dilip Singh (additional head granthi); Singh Sahib Bhai Gurdial Singh (additional head granthi); Singh Sahib Bhai Parshuram Singh (senior meet granthi) and Singh Sahib Bhai Amarjit Singh (meet granthi).
The situation highlights growing tension among various Sikh religious authorities and raises questions about jurisdiction and hierarchy within the community's institutional framework.
As one of Sikhism's five temporal seats, Takhat Shri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib's decision carries significant weight, though the Akal Takht in Amritsar remains the supreme authority in Sikhism.
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