Badal Awaits Akal Takht Punishment, Resigns as SAD President

Citing that it has been two and a half months since he was declared tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht (Eternal Throne; AT), on 13 Nov SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal urged the AT Jathedar (leader) Giani Raghbir Singh to convene a meeting of the Panj Singh Sahiban (five loved ones) to pronounce his tankhah (religious punishment). Despite initially tendering an unconditional apology to AT (SDW Vol 2, Issue 33, Story 4), Badal has been awaiting the formal tankhah, abstaining from public events as instructed. Badal highlighted that the delay impacts both SAD’s functioning and his ability to address current challenges facing the Panth (Sikh Collective) and Panjab. On 16 Nov, Badal submitted his resignation as President of the SAD to the party’s working committee. Sources within the party suggest the move is a preemptive measure to humbly accept any punishment from the AT, with the possibility of being reappointed after completing the punishment. SAD working President Balwinder Singh Bhunder said the party has yet to decide on Badal’s resignation. Elections for the SAD’s leadership are due on 14 Dec. The primary reason for the party being in disarray is because for decades the party has failed to build a system that would produce competent Sikh leaders to foreground Sikh issues regardless of who is in power in Panjab. Meanwhile, on 13 Nov, global representatives of different faiths visited the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar ahead of the Inter-faith global sammelan (meet) scheduled at Bulandpur in Jalandhar. Accompanied by Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, they participated in ardas (prayers) for Sarbat da Bhala (prosperity for all).