Patna Sahib, July 5, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
In a significant development within Sikh religious circles, Sukhbir Singh Badal, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal and former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, has been declared ‘Tankhayiya’—a term denoting guilt of religious misconduct—by the ‘Five Piaras’ of Takht Patna Sahib.
The decision comes after Badal reportedly ignored multiple summons issued by the Takht, asking him to present himself in response to allegations of interfering in the internal functioning of the sacred Sikh authority. His repeated absence has now culminated in this formal declaration.
The Akali Dal leadership, however, has contested the authority of the Five Piaras of Takht Patna Sahib to issue such summons. The party has maintained that only the Akal Takht Sahib, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhism, holds the legitimate right to summon or discipline individuals on religious matters.
This episode marks a deepening rift between key Sikh institutions, as Takht Patna Sahib asserts greater autonomy and pushes back against what it sees as political intrusion. The declaration is likely to fuel ongoing debates around the boundaries of religious governance and political influence in Sikh affairs.
The implications of this religious verdict may extend beyond symbolic censure, especially given Sukhbir Badal’s prominent role in both Punjab politics and the Sikh religious-political interface.
Further developments are awaited as both religious authorities and political factions navigate the tensions unfolding from this decision. (Agency)
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