There has been widespread appreciation for the Akal Takht’s assertion of authority in Sikh affairs the day it took “strict action” against senior Akali Dal leaders including its president Sukhbir Singh Badal. Sukhbir has resigned as the president and the Akal Takht has asked the party to accept his resignation.
For some time there was a feeling that the authority of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority in the Sikh religion, established by the Sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind as part of the dual ‘Miri-Piri’ institution, had eroded.
This was because the Akal Takht ‘Jathedar’ was appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which in turn is controlled by the Shiromani Akali Dal. Thus it was assumed that the Akali Dal had a direct say in the appointment of the Akal Takht Jathedar, more specifically its president.
Ahead of pronouncing punishment on the Akali leaders for their various acts of omission and commission while being in power, there were apprehensions that the Akal Takht might go soft on the leaders and might issue some token punishment only. Given the access the masses have to social media and the freedom to express their opinion, there was an overwhelming opinion that the Akal Takht should not show any leniency.
Eventually, it did not show any leniency and remained as strict with Sukhbir Badal as anyone else. Since it was a public hearing, it was open to everyone. The way Akal Takht Jathedar during the questioning snubbed Sukhbir telling him to only reply “yes” or “no” was widely acknowledged and appreciated by the Sikh masses. Pictures of Sukhbir Badal sitting in his wheelchair with his plastered leg, went viral on social media, with comments like, “does not take long for the time to change”.
This was the need of the hour. Particularly after Giani Gubachan Singh, the former Jathedar of the Akal Takht had pardoned the Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, without him appearing before the Akal Takht.
Giani Gurbachan Singh was believed to have visited the Chief Minister’s residence in Chandigarh to sign the pardon to the Dera head, which offended the Sikh sentiments. The pardon was, however, withdrawn after there was widespread anger and resentment in the Sikh community.
Not only is the Sikh community feeling relieved over the restoration of the authority of the Akal Takht, but it also believes that the Akali leaders, particularly Sukhbir Badal have been made to realize that there is something more supreme than them and that is Akal Takht.
Sukhbir Badal in turn also appeared before the Akal Takht as a humble Sikh with due remorse which is being acknowledged by the Sikh community.
The community has a great tendency to forgive people who turn modest or humble. The Sikhs, however, by nature do not accept any command or authority and arrogance at all. The community had started feeling and believing that the Badals had grown too arrogant with power.
Now that the Badals have been “humbled” and they have expressed deep remorse and regret and humbly accepted and undergone the punishment, there will be a “feeling of forgiveness” towards the Akali leaders.
The Shiromani Akali Dal will also have an advantage over other political parties. After all, it is not just the SAD leaders who are guilty of various omissions and commissions while being in power, there are leaders from other parties as well. It is only the Akali leaders who are and were held accountable by the community. Now the Akali leaders can reach out to the people with the argument that they (Akali leaders) can be held accountable but not others.
This will provide them with a natural advantage over other political parties on political matters.
Without going into deep details, leaders of other political parties have never been summoned by the Akal Takht for various acts of omissions and commissions during their tenure in power.
The punishment of Akali leaders will reestablish and reinforce their accountability that they are answerable to the panth and the Akal Takht. The same cannot be said about other political parties whether the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party or the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Monday’s developments at the Akal Takht have not only redeemed the faith of the Sikhs in the ‘Supreme Authority’ of the Akal Takht but also reaffirmed the accountability of the Akali leaders towards the panth, which they can never take for granted anymore. This is certain to rebuild the mutual faith and trust between the Sikh community and the Shiromani Akali Dal. The sense of alienation among the Akali supporters of the party will also ease, which is good for the party as well as Punjab.
A weak Akali Dal is neither in the interest of the panth, nor Punjab.
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