Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal and other senior party leaders on Tuesday reached the holiest of Sikh shrines, Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple, in this city of Punjab with a plaque around their necks to perform 'sewa (selfless service)', including cleaning bathrooms, utensils, and devotees' shoes.
In his turn, Sukhbir Badal, who was seated in a wheelchair owing to a hairline fracture in the foot, wore guard's blue-coloured dress and served for one hour at the entrance of the Golden Temple.
Elderly Akali leader turned rebel Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who was similarly given the same punishment, sat on a wheelchair owing to elderly age and performed the guard duty.
A day before, the five high priests instructed the top Akali leaders, including Sukhbir Badal, to act as a 'sewadar' by washing dishes and cleaning shoes as 'tankhah' religious punishment for the "sins" committed by his government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.
The Akal Takht further took away the 'Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Qaum' (pride of community) tiled conferred on Sukhbir's father Parkash Singh Badal in 2011. Senior Badal was put behind bars posthumously for being party to 'anti-Sikh' decisions made during his tenure as Chief Minister.
Sukhbir Badal along with the leaders of the Akali Dal, who were cabinet ministers, cleaned bathrooms, utensils, and devotees' shoes, besides serving 'langar'.
The punishment was pronounced from the ramparts of the Akal Takht Sahib at Golden Temple after a joint meeting by jathedars of five takhts (the seats of authority of Sikhs) led by Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh.
On Monday, five high priests of the ruling Sikh High Priesthood directed the working committee of the Akali Dal to accept Sukhbir Badal's resignation as party chief in three days besides forming a panel for conducting elections for the posts of president and office bearers within six months.
The punishment came three months after Sukhbir Badal was declared 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) after rebel party leaders appeared before the Akal Takht on July 1 and sought forgiveness for 'mistakes' during the Akali Dal rule, including failure to punish those responsible for the 2015 sacrilege incidents and pardoning Sirsa dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2007 blasphemy case.
Considering the ailing foot, Sukhbir Badal was instructed to act as a guard for one hour each on December 3 and 4 at the entrance of the Golden Temple in guard's dress but sitting in a wheelchair.
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