Takht Patna Sahib declares Sukhbir Badal 'tankhaiya'

Chandigarh, Jul 5 (PTI) The high priests of Takht Sri Patna Sahib in Bihar Saturday pronounced Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious punishment) for failing to appear before it and ignoring its directions.

Takht Sri Patna Sahib is one of the five temporal seats of Sikhism. The Akal Takht in Amritsar is the supreme temporal seat.

In August last year, Badal was pronounced 'tankhaiya' by the Akal Takht, which later in December awarded 'tankhah' (religious punishment) for the "mistakes" committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.

Takht Sri Patna Sahib Jathedar and head 'granthi' Giani Baldev Singh pronounced the decision of declaring Badal 'tankhaiya' in Bihar's Patna on Saturday.

In the directive, Singh stated that the Akal Takht Jathedar and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar had issued an "unauthorised and unconstitutional" decision on May 21 by challenging the established norms, the constitution and making undue interference in the authority of the Takht Sri Patna Sahib.

"We received information about your (Badal) involvement in the entire sequence of events as a conspirator. You were given two opportunities to present your side but you did not appear.

"For the third time, on the request of Harjinder Singh Dhami, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, 20 more days were given but still you did not appear. From this, it is clear that you are involved in the above sequence of events," the Takht Sri Patna Sahib directive said.

"Sukhbir Singh Badal is declared 'tankhaiya' for being found guilty of ignoring the orders of the 'Panj Pyare Singh Sahibs' of Takht Sri Patna Sahib," the directive said.

The current development has its genesis in the Akal Takht's May 21 directive, in which it barred Takht Sri Patna Sahib Jathedar and head 'granthi' Giani Baldev Singh and additional head 'granthi' Gurdial Singh from performing 'panthic' duties, leading to confrontation between the two takhts.

In retaliation, the Takht Patna Sahib declared Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gragaj and Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Tek Singh 'tankhaiya' on the same day and also summoned Badal before it for his alleged "involvement as a conspirator." SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami expressed concern over the decision of Takht Patna Sahib to declare Badal as 'tankhaiya', terming it an act beyond their jurisdiction and one that creates confusion within the 'panth' (Sikh community).

In a statement, Dhami stated the traditions and customs of the 'Khalsa Panth' are meant to resolve community issues, not to create crises within the community.

He emphasised that undermining the supremacy of the Akal Takht Sahib was inappropriate, and such actions could lead to internal discord within the Sikh community.

He acknowledged that while Takht Patna Sahib holds great respect within the Sikh world, the authority to deliberate on 'panthic' matters lie solely with the Akal Takht.

He further said there is a longstanding historical tradition of 'panthic' issues being addressed jointly by the five Singh Sahibs under the leadership of Akal Takht.

It is this very tradition that has uplifted the Sikh community on the global stage, he said.

He warned that if the supremacy of the Akal Takht starts being challenged by other takhts, it would severely damage the essence and richness of Sikh traditions.

He stressed that, especially in the current matter, the way forward must be through mutual dialogue, so that instead of visible conflict within the community, Sikh strength can be directed towards the community's interests, the prosperity of the 'panth', and the promotion of Sikh values. PTI CHS VSD SKY SKY