Hit completes ‘tankhah’, performs ardas at Takht

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 19

Avtar Singh Hit, head of the Takht Sri Patna Sahib Management Committee, today performed ardas at Akal Takht after successfully completing the “tankhah” (religious punishment) awarded to him.

On January 28, the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, after having deliberations with other Takht heads, awarded religious punishment to Hit for his alleged blasphemous act of equating Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with Guru during a religious programme to observe Guru Gobind Singh’s Parkash Purb on January 13.

He cleaned shoes at “jora ghar” and utensils at langar hall as a part of punishment for one hour and listened to Gurbani kirtan in the Golden Temple. 

In the next phase of punishment, he performed an identical sewa at Gurdwara Patna Sahib for seven days, before holding an akhand path for atonement. He was also directed to offer “karah parshad” of Rs 5,100 at each shrine.

After getting a clearance certificate, signed by Akal Takht’s acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, he said, “I have performed the sewa as directed by Akal Takht and will never argue about the issue keeping in mind the sanctity of the highest temporal seat,” he said.

I have performed the sewa as directed by the Akal Takht and will never argue about the issue keeping in mind the sanctity of the highest temporal seat.— Avtar Singh Hit, Head, Takht Sri Patna Sahib Management Committee