JALANDHAR: Questioning the method adapted by the SAD (Badal) to seek forgiveness at Akal Takht without even revealing their “deliberate or inadvertent follies” (Jaane anjaane hoian bhullan), Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar has asked if this method is a one-time exception then it will be applicable to others including leaders of other political parties.Jakhar has also said that once SAD top brass has admitted that they did commit follies, Akal Takht Jathedar should debar Badals from public life for at least 10 years as minimum punishment for their “sins”.Addressing a press conference in Jalandhar on Sunday, Jakhar said that first they violated Maryada by arranging pardon for Sirsa Dera chief and now they are again violating Maryada.“Though it is a religious issue and Akal Takht Jathedar knows more but laying of red carpet for ‘accused’ when they went to Darbar Sahib to seek forgiveness shows that how they have brought down the religious institutions and how Maryada is the last thing on their minds,” PPCC president said.“This should also be clarified if this method is a one-time exception or anybody after committing big blunders and violating Maryada can walk in, perform sewa and claim to seek pardon and free of any burden of major sins just by paying obeisance,” Jakhar asked adding, “we hope that much learned Akal Takht jathedar would throw light on this.”“For ten years, they looted the people and the state, committed atrocities on people and damaged the religious institutions immensely. Akal Takht Jathedar should at least pronounce Tankhah (religious punishment) of ousting Badals from public life for at least ten years including from controlling the religious institutions. Their sins were committed when they held political office and that should be the minimum punishment,” PPCC president said.“They have not come to Akal Takht with any earnestness and the way red carpet was laid for them showed that by enacting this farce, Badals are once again using religion for their politics and this time just to save one seat of their family,” he said. “If a humble Sikh prays to the Guru from his heart to seek forgiveness then where is the need for live telecast of their action,” he said while taking dig at Badals.Jakhar said that when SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal would break his silence on Monday, he should list out the blunders or sins committed by his family during his rule and should also tell the people that who would pay for wasting around Rs 95 lakh of SGPC for inserting huge advertisements to justify pardon to Sirsa Dera chief.Jakhar alleged that by monopolising live telecast of Gurbani kirtan from Darbar Sahib, Badals managed to gather annual revenue of around Rs 600 crore from the devotees. “Let Akal Takht jathedar demand these accounts also and should ask how this huge money would be refunded to the Panth,” he saidTaking a further dig he said that those who were instrumental in arranging pardon for Sirsa Dera chief were now seeking pardon for themselves.

Stay updated with all the Latest Ludhiana headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.