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.
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.
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.
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'..."