Srinagar event: Akal Takht pronounces 'tankhah' to Punjab minister Harjot Bains

Akal Takht on Wednesday pronounced ‘tankhah’ (punishment for religious misconduct) to Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains in connection with a controversial dance performance at the commemoration event of Guru Teg Bahadur’s 350th martyrdom held in Srinagar.

Bains was directed to perform a series of religious tasks as spiritual atonement for violating Sikh maryada (code of conduct) during the religious event.

The five Sikh high priests, led by Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, issued their directive, requiring the minister to undertake a barefoot pilgrimage from the Golden Temple to Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal, located roughly half a km away in a narrow street. He has also been instructed to visit Baba Bakala, a holy town about 40 km from Amritsar, and Delhi’s Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib.

As part of the atonement, Bains has also been asked to do two-day ‘sewa’ (voluntary service), including cleaning footwear and sweeping the premises of Anandpur Sahib. He is also required to offer ‘deg’ of Rs 1100 and participate in ‘ardas’ seeking forgiveness.

Coming out of the Akal Takht secretariat, Punjab minister Harjot Singh Bains said that as a devout Sikh, he humbly accepted the punishment from the Jathedars and would undertake the tasks to atone for his mistakes.

The Akal Takht had summoned Bains on Wednesday, while Language Department Director Jaswant Singh, currently out of the country, is expected to appear later.

Jathedar Gargaj had summoned them to appear before five Sikh high priests for an explanation, as both were present at the controversial programme where the dance performance took place in front of them.

Following the directive, Bains issued an apology on social media, stating that as a Sikh Cabinet Minister, he accepted the mistake “committed knowingly or unknowingly” by the event’s management.