Bikram Majithia and Akali Dal Leaders clean Golden Temple toilets as Akal Takht punishment

Prominent Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders, including Bikram Singh Majithia, Sukhbir Singh Badal, and Daljit Singh Cheema, followed an Akal Takht directive by cleaning toilets at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. This act of service, performed on Tuesday, was part of a religious punishment, or "tanakh," issued by Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs.

The punishment was a response to what Akal Takht described as "religious misconduct" by the Akali Dal leadership during their time in alliance with the BJP between 2007 and 2017. Visuals showed the leaders humbly engaging in cleaning work, with Sukhbir Badal and veteran leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa performing duties in wheelchairs due to health issues. Badal wore blue sewadar attire and displayed a board acknowledging his misdeeds.

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Admissions and consequences

On Monday, Sukhbir Badal admitted to errors made during his leadership, such as pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in a 2007 blasphemy case. These actions had caused significant resentment within the Sikh community. He was labeled a "tankhaiya," or violator of the Sikh religious code.

The Akal Takht also directed the Akali Dal to accept Sukhbir Badal's resignation as party chief and revoked the honorary title "Fakhar-e-Quam" (Pride of the Community) previously given to his late father, Parkash Singh Badal. This decision reflects the growing accountability demanded by the Sikh religious leadership.

The leaders' acts of service at the Golden Temple underline a broader narrative of seeking forgiveness and re-establishing connections with the Sikh community. The event serves as a reminder of the consequences of political decisions that conflict with religious values.