Chandigarh: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Wednesday appeared before Akal Takht Jathedar and underwent the 'religious punishment' for using 'derogatory remarks' against his predecessor Bibi Jagir Kaur. For record, while SGPC is also known as the mini Parliament of Sikhs, Akal Takht is the highest temporal seat of Sikhs.

Dhami appeared before 'Panj Pyare' (five beloved ones) who asked him to wash utensils at the 'Langar Hall' and clean the shoes of devotees at the 'Joda ghar' for an hour each, recite prayers and perform 'ardas'.

It may be recalled that the said religious punishment was pronounced based on a complaint (an audio conversation) brought before Panj Pyare in which Dhami was purportedly heard using derogatory remarks against former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur. Subsequently, Dhami had volunteered to approach Akal Takht to tender an apology and had also apologised to Kaur.

A few days ago Dhami had also appeared before the Punjab State Commission for Women – which had taken a suo-moto cognisance of the said audio-recording circulating on social media – and tendered apology over his alleged derogatory remarks against Kaur, though the commission refused to accept it. Later Bibi Jagir Kaur had also appeared before the commission and demanded legal action against him.