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Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) lead and Punjab’s former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday undertook religious service at the Golden Temple. Donning the traditional blue attire of a sewadaar, Sukhbir held a spear and wore a placard around his neck, symbolizing penance as decreed by the Sikhs’ highest temporal seat, Akal Takht, for religious misconduct. 
 
Arriving at the Golden Temple at 9 am, Sukhbir, having a fractured leg, commenced his service by sitting on a wheelchair near the Ghanta Ghar entrance for an hour, spear in hand, as part of his atonement. Following this, he joined other devotees in listening to kirtan and performing community service by cleaning utensils. Later in the evening, Sukhbir is expected to return to the shrine to clean devotees’ shoes, fulfilling another part of his prescribed punishment.
 
Notably, other senior Akali leaders, including Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Daljit Singh Cheema, and Bikram Singh Majithia, also participated in similar acts of atonement. Chandumajra and Cheema were seen cleaning toilets as part of their assigned tasks, while Majithia was seen washing uetnsils. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa was also seen donning sewadaar’s attire, holding spear, and standing guard at the entrance of the sacred shrine, also on a wheelchair due to his old age and health.
 
The directives for these acts of penance stem from the Akal Takht’s decision a day before, where the five Singh Sahibans convened to deliberate on allegations of religious misconduct linked to incidents during the SAD-led Punjab Government. On August 30, 2024, Sukhbir was declared a ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) for decisions deemed contrary to the Sikh principles, including granting parole to controversial Dera sect head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. 
 
Considering Sukhbir’s fractured foot, special arrangements were made. He was permitted to remain seated near the temple entrance, with a spear in hand, symbolizing his role as a symbolic guard. Sukhbir was exempted from tasks like cleaning toilets due to his injury.
 
This atonement period spans a week, with Akali leaders engaging in various services, including toilet cleaning, utensil washing, and participation in prayers. The prescribed punishments underscore the Akal Takht's commitment to accountability, even for influential figures, while promoting principles of equality and humility.