Punjab Cabinet Minister Sikander Singh Maluka on Sunday declared as ‘Tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Sikhs’ highest temporal seat, Akal Takht for allegedly indulging in a blasphemous act of distorting the Sikh ardas (prayer) at Bathinda.
Maluka appeared before the five high priests on Sunday and was awarded religious punishment including performing sewa at Joda Ghar and langar hall at the Golden Temple for three days besides deposit Rs 51,000 at Akal Takht’s golak as punishment.
He was also asked to perform sewa at langar Hall and Joda Ghar for a day besides depositing Rs 31,000 at Taktht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo’s golak.
Maluka was held guilty in a case wherein Sikh ardas (prayer) was distorted and imitated and a prayer of separate religion was conducted by ignoring the Sikh ethos in his presence.
Akal Takht jathedar (head priest) Giani Gurbacha Singh, acting against Maluka on the basis of probe done by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), pronounced the ‘Tankhah’ (religious punishment as per Sikh tenets) after the meeting of Sikh clergy held at Akal Takht.
“Maluka will have to perform sewa of cleaning utensils at langar Ghar (community kitchen) and perform sewa at Jora Ghar (shoe store) for one hour at Golden Temple. He will have to do this for three days. Maluka will have to listen to gurbani during the Akhand Path for maximum time. Other than this, he will have to donate Rs 51,000 at Akal Takht Sahib,” said Giani Gurbachan Singh.
He added that Maluka will have to perform sewa of cleaning utensils for one day and also donate Rs 31,000 at Takht Shree Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo. After this, he will have to get ardas performed for apology at Akal Takht by offering parsad of Rs 500, said the Akal Takht Jathedar.
Maintaining that Sikh ardas symbolises rich Sikh traditions and dignity of Khalsa Panth, the Jathedar said that in the presence of Maluka, Sikh ardas was distorted and imitated which has hurt the Sikh sentiments.
At the time when Akal Takht Jathedar was pronouncing the punishment, Maluka stood in front with folded hands. Reacting to the Akal Takht’s decision, Makuka did not speak much but said, “I respect the decision of the Akal Takht.”
He also admitted his mistake in front of the Akal Takht Jathedar.
Maluka come under scanner after a video of a function, held last month at the time of inauguration of his election office at Ramupra Phul, in which Sikh ‘ardas’ was imitated and distorted to praise Hindu Gods went viral on social media.
Maluka is SAD’s candidate from Rampura Phul for February 4 Punjab Assembly polls.
As soon as the video came to the Akal Takht Jathedar’s notice, he took a serious note of it and slammed Maluka for the act. On the directions of the Akal Takht Jathedar to initiate probe, SGPC had formed a three-member committee which found the Minister guilty.