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Sleazy video row: After 5 years, Akal Takht pardons ex-Akali minister Langah
After around 5 years, Akal Takht pardoned former Akali minister Sucha Singh Langah who was excommunicated for an immoral act, and allowed him to resume his political activities.
AMRITSAR: After around five years, Akal Takht finally pardoned former Akali minister Sucha Singh Langah who was excommunicated for an immoral act, and allowed him to resume his political activities. Langah was also awarded tankhah (religious punishment) for the offence.
Langah was expelled from Panth by the Takht after he was purportedly seen indulging in an immoral act with a woman in a viral video in 2017. On the complaint of the woman, who is a constable in Punjab police, a case was registered against Langah under sections 376 (rape), 384 (extortion), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
Even though he was acquitted by a Gurdaspur court in 2018 after the woman said that she had filed the complaint under pressure, Langh’s plea for an apology was never entertained by the Sikh clergy at the Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat. Since his acquittal, he has made all kinds of efforts, including regular visits to Akal Takht, submitting written pleas and indulging in pressure tactics such as getting a rally organised by his supporters in Gurdaspur to press the Takht, but to no avail.
He was finally listened to for the first time on Saturday during the meeting of Panj Singh Sahiban (Akal Takht Jathedar-led presidium of Sikh clergymen) at Takht.
When the Sikh clergy was pronouncing their decisions from Akal Takht, Langah was standing in front of the Takht with devotees present there were witnesses.
After Langah accepted his mistake, Akal Takht asked him to wait for the tankhah.
As tankhah, he was asked to recite Japji Sahib at Sri Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) and listen to kirtan in parkarma for 21 days under restrictions. Besides, he was directed to offer ₹5,100 each to Dhadi Jathas (groups of traditional ballad singers) performed at Takht on any day during the period of tankhah and also bring langar (free food) for them and clean the utensils used by them. Notably, Langah once scolded and misbehaved with dhadis at the Takht. Langah will offer also ₹5,100, and deg of karah parshad at Takht on the final day.
The Jathedar also said that Langah will not be a member of any gurdwara committee for the next five years, but he will be allowed to take part in political activities. Langah accepted the punishment with folded hands.
US-based Sikh activist excommunicated, aides get tankhah
Takht also excommunicated US-based Thaminder Singh Anand for allegedly distorting the Gurbani while printing the saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from China in an unauthorised manner and failing to appear before it.
Thaminder, who runs SikhBookClub.com, has been accused of not only getting copies of the ‘saroop’ published but also uploading its PDF on the website.
The SGPC also appealed to the Jathedar to take action against the unauthorised printing of saroops with distorted Gurbani verses.
However, the persons accompanying him in this project were awarded tankhah as they admitted their fault and appeared before the Takht.
Takht bats for Sikh Bank
The Sikh clergy, during the meeting, also decided to form an international-level Sikh educational board comprising Sikh scholars and representatives of Sikh educational institutions. The Akal Takht sought suggestions for establishing a Sikh Bank on a global level on the pattern of the Islamic Bank to aid Sikh youths in terms of employment and higher education. Reacting to a case registered against an 11-year-old boy for allegedly promoting gun culture, the Takht said it is very unfortunate. The Jathedar said a ban should have been imposed on the movies which promote this culture, first.
