Dera row: ExAkali minister declared ‘tankhaiya’

AMRITSAR: The Akal Takht on Friday declared former Akali minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) for seeking votes from the Dera Sacha Sauda ahead of the Punjab assembly elections.

Sekhon, who appeared before the highest temporal seat on Friday, was the only politician who had failed to do so on April 17.

In all, 38 politicians from different parties had appeared before the Akal Takht that day, of which 21 were asked to serve ‘tankha’ (religious punishment) at the Golden Temple, which they completed on April 30.

Holding Sekhon guilty of violating the Akal Takht’s 2007 edict directing Sikhs to boycott the Sirsa dera, the Sikh clergy directed him to perform ‘sewa’ at the Gurdwara Jamani Sahib Bajidpur in Ferozepur and Golden Temple besides making donations.

NAMDHARI ROW: TAKHT SETS UP PROBE PANEL The Akal Takht has formed an eight-member panel to probe the alleged tampering with ‘amrit sanchar maryada’ by the Namdhari sect. Told to submit its report in a month, the panel will also suggest the action to be taken against the sect led by Thakur Dalip Singh, if found guilty.

The SGPC had also probed the allegation. “As this is a serious issue, it needs further investigation,” said Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh.

The Akal Takht also asked all gurdwara managements to spend 10% of the monthly donation for the education of children.