Day after Takht edict, Sukhbir, 3 former ministers tender apology

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 31

A day after the five Sikh high priests declared former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct) and summoned former ministers who were part of his government from 2007 to 2017, four SAD leaders, led by Badal, appeared before Akal Takht and submitted individual letters seeking atonement for their “sins”.

Their individual apology letters were accepted by Akal Takht officials as Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh was not available there. The other three Akali leaders who tendered apology are Daljit Singh Cheema, Guljar Singh Ranike and Sharanjit Singh Dhillon.

Now, the high priests are likely to call another meeting to decide the quantum of religious punishment to Badal and his former cabinet colleagues.

Before heading to pay obeisance at Akal Takht, Badal went to its secretariat and submitted a letter written in Punjabi addressed to the Jathedar. He, however, refused to speak to the media. After his apology letter went viral online, he also uploaded a message on social media.

In his apology letter, he said he received a copy of the edict this morning and he immediately came to the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs as a “das” (humble person) for “samarpan” (surrender). He sought atonement for the mistakes committed during the tenure of his government. He said he would appear before the Sikh high priests whenever they called him.

Former minister Dr Cheema said all of them submitted written replies at the Akal Takht secretariat. In his statement, he said he remained adviser to the then CM from 2007 to 2014 and then the Education Minister. He mentioned that he endorsed the apology letter submitted by Sukhbir Badal at Akal Takht on July 24.

Claiming that all decisions were taken unanimously, he sought the pardon of the Sikh high priests without any argument. He announced he would follow all directions of Akal Takht. Cheema said all Akali leaders were unanimous on the appointment of Balwinder Singh Bhundar as working president of the SAD.