A day after former minister Sucha Singh Langah was granted a pardon by Akal Takht for an immoral act, senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former parliamentary secretary Virsa Singh Valtoha on Sunday objected to the decision.
Valtoha said Akal Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh’s order that Langah can now resume politics raised many questions. He said he felt that there may be “some powers behind the decision, which want to weaken SAD.”
Former SAD minister Langah was awarded tankhah (religious punishment) for his offence. He was expelled from the Panth by the Takht after a purported objectionable video of him with a woman went viral in 2017. On the complaint of the woman, who is a constable in the Punjab police, Langah was booked for rape, cheating, extortion and criminal intimidation. In 2018, he was acquitted by a Gurdaspur court after the woman stated that she had filed the complaint under pressure.
Valtoha, while objecting to the decision on his Facebook page, said the ‘immediate pardon’ and allowance of ‘exemptions in the political and religious field’ to Langah raised many questions.
Valtoha said there are many instances when prominent Sikhs were allowed to return to the Panth by Takht after their humble atonements. He said he also understands the pain the family of Langah had to suffer due to his expulsion from the Panth. “Langah had been seeking pardon for his act for a long time. It is the right of the jathedar to decide on his pleas. It can be the prerogative of the jathedar to return Langah to the Panth. However, ordering that Langah can take part in politics raises many questions,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Valtoha said there are many instances when prominent Sikhs were allowed to return to the Panth by Takht after their humble atonements. He said he also understands the pain the family of Langah had to suffer due to his expulsion from the Panth. “Langah had been seeking pardon for his act for a long time. It is the right of the jathedar to decide on his pleas. It can be the prerogative of the jathedar to return Langah to the Panth. However, ordering that Langah can take part in politics raises many questions,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Valtoha said the decision of Jathedar was being seen as a decision of SAD. “I want to make it clear that there is no hand of SAD in this matter,” he said.
He said it was ‘astonishing’ that Langah was allowed to return to politics and restricted for five years from taking part in religious activities.
“I appeal to the jathedar that he should reconsider his decision to allow Langah to resume political and religious activities,” he added.
As tankhah, Langah was asked to wash utensils for 21 days at the Golden Temple, listen to Gurbani kirtan for one hour and recite Japji Sahib 21 times. Langah was barred from posting photographs of him serving a sentence on social media. Langah was also asked to give ₹5,100 to each Dhadhi for one day.