Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal performed the duty of 'sewadar' outside Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Punjab's Rupnagar district amid tight security. Badal performed the religious duty as part of penance a day after he survived a bid on his life.
The former Punjab deputy chief minister and a Z+ protectee arrived at the Ananadpur Sahib shrine surrounded by security personnel. He was dressed in a blue 'sewadar' uniform and sat at the entrance of the gurdwara with a spear in one hand.
Badal is undergoing a religious punishment pronounced by the Akal Takht, the temporal Sikh body, for "mistakes" committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal government in Punjab during its tenure from 2007 to 2017.
The Akal Takht has asked Badal to perform the service of 'sewadar' for two days each at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, and Darbar Sahib in Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib.
The Akal Takht said Badal, along with his partner Sikh Cabinet ministers, including Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Sucha Singh Langah, Hira Singh Gabaria and Balwinder Singh Bhundar, took some decisions that harmed the image of 'Pathak Swaroop'.
During his penance at the Golden Temple on the second day on Wednesday, Badal had a narrow escape after a former Khalistani terrorist fired at him from a close range but missed as he was overpowered by plainclothes policemen.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made by the police ahead of Badal's visit to Takht Kesgarh Sahib. Rupnagar Senior Superintendent of Police Gulneet Singh Khurana said foolproof security arrangements have been made.
Policemen in plainclothes have also been deployed and police are keeping an eye on things, the officials said. Besides Badal, SAD leaders and workers were present at the gurdwara.