Chandigarh: Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and his late father former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal were on Monday reportedly held accused of religious misconduct during the 2015 Akali government’s tenure. The accusation was in connection with the decision to forgive Dera Chief Ram Rahim during the Akali government, for his religious misconduct, in which the Akal Takht (Supreme Sikh Body) declared Badals guilty of religious misconduct. Following this, the Akal Takht withdrew the title of ‘Fakhr-e-Qaum’ given to former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and gave religious punishment to Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is having a fracture in his leg, to be deployed as a security guard outside the Golden Temple.  

Apart from Badal, the Supreme Sikh Body also ordered punishment for four others, including the then Cabinet ministers, to clean washrooms and utensils in the Golden Temple. This punishment came up after Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday reportedly admitted that he had played a role in getting ‘Dera Sacha Sauda’ chief Ram Rahim pardoned during the Akal government.

As per information, a meeting of five ‘Singh Sahibans’ was held at ‘Akal Takht’ regarding Sukhbir Singh Badal’s case, in which he and other cabinet members were sentenced for charges of religious misconduct during the Shiromani Akali Dal government. Notably, around two months ago Sukhbir Singh Badal was declared ‘Tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht.

In 2007 in Salabatpura, Gurmeet Ram Rahim imitated the tradition of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and pretended to drink ‘Amrit’ by dressing up like him. After the incident, a police case was also registered against Ram Rahim. However, as per claims, instead of punishment, Ram Rahim was granted pardon and the Akali government withdrew the cases registered against him.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghubir Singh has directed the Shiromani Akali Dal’s working committee to accept Sukhbir Badal’s resignation within three days and report to the Akal Takht Sahib. The Akal Takht has also directed the Shiromani Akali Dal’s working committee to start a membership drive and elect a new president within six months.

“As per the Akal Takht’s verdict, the Shiromani Akali Dal will be reorganised. The entire structure of the party will be reorganised. This means that the ‘Badal Akali Dal’ has been abolished, and a new Akali Dal will be formed within six months. We, however, cannot say whether the Badal family will have control of the new Akali Dal or not,” says Sikh scholar Jaspal Singh on Akal Takht’s verdict on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal.