SGPC Member Purain Apologises to Akal Takht for Meeting CM Mann, Seeks Tankhahਐੱਸਜੀਪੀਸੀ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਪੁੜੈਣ ਨੇ ਮਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲਣ 'ਤੇ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਅੱਗੇ ਮੰਗੀ ਮੁਆਫ਼ੀ, ਤਨਖ਼ਾਹ ਦੀ ਬੇਨਤੀ

SGPC member Jaswant Singh Purain appeared at the Akal Takht Secretariat in Amritsar on Wednesday, October 7, and submitted an explanation and apology to acting jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj for meeting Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The Akal Takht declared Mann "Guru Dokhi" and "Khalsa Panth Virodhi" in an edict on June 15, 2026. According to an official statement from the Takht, Purain called the meeting a major mistake and asked for tankhah, a religious penance.

What did Purain tell the Akal Takht?

Purain said he had realised that meeting the chief minister was a mistake, that there was no wrong intention behind it and that his motive was the interest of the Panth. He said he would accept whatever decision the Akal Takht took and requested a tankhah so that he could move forward with a clear conscience, Hindustan Times and PTI reported.

Why was he summoned?

Purain and fellow SGPC member Mithu Singh Kahneke were part of a Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) delegation that met Mann in Chandigarh on September 23, urging a thorough probe into rape allegations against former SGPC member Amarjit Singh Chawla. The jathedar said the meeting violated the Takht's edict, directed both to appear within 10 days and barred them from SGPC meetings until pardoned, Hindustan Times reported on October 1.

What happens next?

Bagicha Singh, in charge of the Akal Takht Secretariat, said Purain's explanation and apology would be considered at a meeting of the Panj Singh Sahibans, the Sikh clergy, after which a decision would be taken. No date for that meeting was given in the reports. Kahneke's response was not reported in the coverage reviewed.

What is a tankhah?

A tankhah is a religious penance or punishment imposed by the Akal Takht on a Sikh found guilty of a religious misconduct.

Who is Jaswant Singh Purain?

He is a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages gurdwaras in Punjab and neighbouring states.

Why did the Akal Takht declare Bhagwant Mann "Guru Dokhi"?

The reports say the Akal Takht issued the edict against the chief minister on June 15, 2026. Those reports describe the edict only as declaring him "Guru Dokhi" and "Khalsa Panth Virodhi".