Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal Performs 'Sewadar' Duties As Penance For 'Sins': WATCH

Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Shiromani Akali Dal President was at the Golden Temple on the first day of penance.

Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal

Source : ANI

Former Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal was seen at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab on Tuesday morning to begin his first day of penance. Holding a spear in one hand, Badal, in blue 'sewadar' clothes, was seated in a wheelchair due to his fractured leg, he was seen wearing a plaque around his neck. 

Punjab: Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal sits by the gate at Golden Temple in Amritsar with a plaque around his neck and spear in his hand as one of the religious punishments pronounced for him by Sri Akal Takht Sahib yesterday. https://t.co/NNC4BR0sWt pic.twitter.com/9A1VhO3Bte

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2024

This follows his declaration as a 'tankhah' (religious punishment) in August by the Akal Takht, which imposed religious punishment on him. Sukhbir Singh Badal, who served as Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister from 2007 to 2017, has to perform sewadar duties at the Golden Temple, including washing utensils, cleaning shoes, and maintaining bathrooms. Before the pronouncement of the edict, Sukhbir Badal admitted his mistakes, including pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2007 blasphemy case during the SAD's rule in Punjab.

#WATCH | Punjab: Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal arrives at Golden Temple in Amritsar with a plaque around his neck following the religious punishment pronounced for him by Sri Akal Takht Sahib yesterday.

The punishment includes a directive to perform as a… pic.twitter.com/4no3IstT9N

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2024

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh had also directed Akali leaders Sucha Singh Langah, Hira Singh Gabria, Balwinder Singh Bhundar, Daljit Singh Cheema and Gulzar Singh Ranike to clean washrooms at the Golden Temple on Tuesday, and then clean utensils at the community kitchen after taking a bath.

They would also listen to 'kirtan' for one hour, the Jathedar had said.

#WATCH | Punjab: SAD leaders Daljit Singh Cheema, Bikram Singh Majithia and Maheshinder Singh Grewal clean toilets at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, as part of the religious punishment announced by the Akal Takht yesterday. pic.twitter.com/RfoO3N5ZFI

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2024

Other Akali leaders, including Bibi Jagir Kaur, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Bikram Singh Majithia, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Charanjit Singh Atwal and Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, were told to clean washrooms at the Golden Temple for one hour.

According to ANI, former MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said, "The order for 'sewa' is an order for me. This is the order of the Almighty that has been pronounced for me by Akal Takht... I will sit by the gate, I will also offer my services at 'langar'..."