AMRITSAR, Aug. 7 -- The Akal Takht on Wednesday awarded tankhah (religious punishment) to Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains for violation of Sikh maryada at an event organised by the Punjab government's language department to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur in Srinagar.

As part of atonement, the minister has been asked to clean shoes and perform sewa at gurdwaras associated with the ninth Sikh master. He was also to make efforts to improve the condition of the roads leading to them. The Takht indirectly also ordered the state government to refrain from organising religious events and get the cooperation of Sikh institutions, including SGPC, in holding events to mark the anniversary.

Amid an argument o...