The Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhs, today awarded religious punishment to Punjab minister Sikander Singh Maluka after finding him guilty of "distorting hymns" and asked him to clean utensils in the community kitchen of the Golden Temple and shoes of devotees.
Akal Takht jathedar Gurbachan Singh pronounced "tankhah" (religious punishment as per Sikh tenets) based on a probe conducted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee into the charges levelled against the minister.
A complainant had last month alleged that Maluka had taken part in a private function in Bhatinda where 'ardas' (Sikh prayer) was "intentionally" distorted.
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Maluka appeared before the five Sikh head priests who questioned him about the "blasphemous" act.
The minister admitted to making a mistake and said he wish to atone for the offence with "tankah".
Singh, while pronouncing the punishment, directed him to clean utensils in the community kitchen of the Golden Temple the shoes of devotees for an hour daily for three days on the trot.
Maluka was also asked to organise an "akhand path" (continuous recitation of hymns) and deposit Rs 51,000 with the Akal Takht.
The clergy told him to listen to hymns, recite the Sikh religious scripture and deposit Rs 1,000 at Gurdwara Talwandi Sabo.
The Akal Takht Jathedar had on December 27 directed SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar to probe the "blasphemous" act in Bhatinda.
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