AMRITSAR: A ‘Takhti (card— board) reading All my sins be pardoned since I have come in your feet the former Union Home Minister Mr. Buta Singh stood silently among the Sikh sangat (community) who had sought an apology from Sri Akal Takht Jathedar (Head) Prof. Manjit Singh for his ‘sins’ committed in the wake of the Operation Blue Star in 1984 was on Jan.26 awarded tankha (religious punishment) for 56 days. Pronouncing the verdict on behalf of the five head priests at Sri Akal Takht the supreme religio-temporal seat of Sikhs in Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) here the Jathedar said as a part of the religious punishment Buta Singh would be required to sweep the floors of the Golden Temple and Sri Akul Takht and was the langar (community kitchen) utensils. He should also dust the shoes of devotees daily for a week at Sri Darbar Sahib and Sri Akal Takht. Bula Singh would repeat the same exercise at the rest of the four Takhts Sri Anandpur Sahib Sri Hazur Sahib Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo) and Sri Pabna Sahib for three weeks the Jathedar said Buta Singh was ordered by the Jathedar to carry on the punishment without removing the Takht from his neck.
While undergoing the punishment the Jathedar said Buta Singh would be treated like an excommunicated person After completing the punishment he would again appear before the Akal Takht to seek an apology perform Akhand path and offer karah parsad for Rs.1100 and make an offering of an equal amount to the golak. After that they would become part of the Sikh sangat once again the Jathedar said.
Against Sikh Maryada: The Jathedar took exception of the fact that Buta Singh had dyed his beard which he said was against the Sikh maryada.’ As a punishment for this he would be sweeping the ‘parkarama’ of the temple as the final act the Jathedar said The Jathedar said the five head priests questioned Buta Singh why he defied the directive of the then five head priests who wanted him Not to associate himself with the repair of Si Akal Takat after it was damaged during the Operation Blue Star. Buta Singh was also hauled up for ignoring the warming served on him after he was declared tankhatya (guilty). Buta Singh told the head pries is he admired his sit and guilt in totality during the duration of announcement of the punishment. Buta Singh was made to stand with his hands up and afterwards was asked to pay his obeisance at Sri Akal Takht and the Darshani Deori. Singh was also made to seek an apology from the sangat present on the occasion.
Religious Misconduct: Buta Singh with Narain Singh Kaleranwale was excommunicated on April 2.1985 for defying the directive of Sri Akal Takht as they were found tankhaiya of religious misconduct’ at the World Sikh Convention on Sept.2,1984 for his association with the Nihang chief of Budha Dal Santa Singh for building Sri Akal Takht which had been severely damaged during Operation Blue Star in June 1984.
Controversies: Buta Singh said as then Union Home Minister he had (o undertake repairs of Sri Akal Takht and Darshni Deori which led to controversies® and finally his excommunication from the Sikh panth The decision of Sri Akal Takht came after hectic consultations between the five Sikh Head Priests for about two hour in the chamber of Prof Manji Singh Buta Singh was summoned inside the chamber where he answered queries by the priests.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 4, 1994
