Sukhbir Singh Badal continues 'sewa' a day after assassination attempt; here is why he was 'punished'
Sukhbir Singh Badal was accompanied by security personnel during sewa at Anandpur Sahib. On Wednesday, Badal had a lucky escape, thanks to an alert guard who thwarted an assassination attempt by a gunman while he was on guard duty at the Golden Temple.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday continued his 'sewa,' performing the duties of a guard at the Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, a day after he survived an assassination attempt. Badal was seen wearing a blue ‘sewadar’ uniform and holding a spear in one hand as he performed his duties at the entrance of the Anandpur Sahib shrine.
Sukhbir Singh Badal continues sewa
VIDEO | Punjab: Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal washes utensils as part of his religious penance (Tankhaiya) at Takhat Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Rupnagar district.#PunjabNews #SukhbirSinghBadal
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 5, 2024
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/aO0RxBsU6S
Assassination attempt on Sukhbir Singh Badal
Unlike Wednesday, the former two-time Punjab Deputy Chief Minister was accompanied by security personnel during sewa at Anandpur Sahib. On Wednesday, the 62-year-old had a lucky escape, thanks to an alert guard who thwarted an assassination attempt by a gunman while Badal was on guard duty at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Narayan Singh Chaura, a former Khalistani militant who has been associated with the Babbar Khalsa, was arrested for the assassination attempt.
#WATCH | Punjab: Bullets fired at Golden Temple premises in Amritsar where SAD leaders, including party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, are offering 'seva' under the religious punishments pronounced for them by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, on 2nd December.
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2024
Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/CFQaoiqLkx
Why was Sukhbir Singh Badal punished
Badal, along with a host of other SAD leaders, has been serving 'punishment' handed down to them by the Panj Singh Sahibs, the five high priests of the Shri Akal Takht, after being found guilty of tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct).
They were found guilty of 'mistakes' committed during SAD's tenure in office from 2007 to 2017, including the failure to punish those responsible for the 2015 sacrilege incidents and pardoning Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 2007 blasphemy case.
According to the Sikh priests, the actions harmed the image of 'Panthak Swaroop,' for which they had to perform penance.
VIDEO | Punjab: Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal performs duty of 'sewadar' as part of his religious penance (Tankhaiya) at Takhat Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Rupnagar district.#PunjabNews #SukhbirSinghBadal
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 5, 2024
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/gnJVlFaBwH
What is the punishment
The punishment included washing utensils, cleaning shoes, and bathrooms at the Golden Temple and other key Sikh shrines for two days each while wearing sewadar attire and a placard with Gurbani verses.
The Akal Takht also posthumously revoked the “Fakhr-e-Kaum" (pride of the community) title awarded to his late father, Parkash Singh Badal, as a punishment for his role in the controversies.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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