Amritsar : Senior Akali leader and former Punjab cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia here today tendered an apology in writing at Akal Takht the highest Sikh temporal seat.
When Birkram Majithia arrived at Akal Takht, the Jathedar Akal Takht was not available. In the absence of Jatehdar, Majithia submitted his written apology to Jaspal Singh the PA to Jatehdar.
Now Majitha becomes the fifth minister of SAD Government who submitted his written apology at Akal Takht. Now twelve more former Akali ministers were yet to come at Akal Takht to submit their apology as per the directions of Jathedar Gyani Raghbir Singh .
It may be mentioned here that the remaining twelve Sikh ministers who are expected to Akal Takht were Dr. Upenderjit Kaur, Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Hera Singh Gabria, Sawan Singh Phillour, Sohan Singh Thandal, Siknader Singh Maluka, Manpreet Singh Badal, Surjit Singh Rakhra and Suhca Singh Langah.
However, earlier on August 31, a day after the Akal Takht declared former Deputy CM Punjab and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal guilty of religious misconduct, Badal appeared before the highest temporal seat of Sikhs and sought an apology for the “mistakes” committed by the party and its government from 2007 to 2017.
Besides Badal, his former Cabinet colleagues – ”Daljit Singh Cheema, Gulzar Singh Ranike and Sharanjit Singh Dhillon – and Mahesh Inder Grewal, advisor to the then chief minister, also submitted their written explanation to the Akal Takht.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh had held Badal guilty of religious misconduct and declared him ‘tankhaiya’.
After a meeting of the five Sikh head priests, the jathedar had asked Badal to appear before the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs within 15 days to seek apology for the decisions he took as the deputy chief minister and as SAD chief that deeply harmed the image of the ‘Panth’ and caused damage to Sikh interests.
Badal would remain a ‘tankhaiya’ until he apologises for his “sins”, Singh had said while pronouncing verdict from the Akal Takht complex here.
The members of the Sikh community, who served as ministers in the Akali government from 2007-17, had also been directed to appear at the Akal Takht in person to submit their written explanation in 15 days, he said.
In his letter submitted to the Akal Takht secretariat on Saturday, Badal wrote, “Being a humble Sikh of Guru, I accept the edict and bow my head humbly. Following the edict issued by the Akal Takht, I being a humble servant came to the Akal Takht and tender an apology with folded hands.” His former cabinet colleagues who also submitted their clarifications stated that they agreed with the clarification given by Badal, hence they all were equally accountable for “mistakes” committed during the erstwhile SAD government.
They sought apology from the Akal Takht and said whatever the ‘tankah’ (religious punishment) awarded by the Akal Takht, they were ready to accept as a humble servant.
The former ministers submitted their letters separately and gave consent to undergo punishment to be awarded by the Akal Takht.
