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Religion
Akal Takht Declares AAP MLA Manvinder Singh Giaspura ‘Tanakhai’ Over Caste Discrimination Allegations
✍️ Amar Ujala · Amritsar
🗓 16 Oct 2026, 07:31 PM
👁 18
The Sikh religious authority Akal Takht has issued a tanakhai against AAP legislator Manvinder Singh Giaspura from Amritsar’s Payal area, citing accusations of caste discrimination.
Amritsar’s Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal seat of Sikh authority, has formally declared a tanakhai against Manvinder Singh Giaspura, a member of the Aam Aadmi Party representing the Payal constituency in Punjab. The sanction follows complaints that the legislator engaged in caste‑based discrimination, a violation of Sikh principles of equality.
The Akal Takht’s decision was announced after a panel of religious scholars examined the allegations and concluded that the conduct warranted disciplinary action. A tanakhai is a religious censure that bars the individual from participating in Sikh congregational activities and can affect their standing within the community.
The ruling places the MLA under significant moral and political pressure, as the AAP has not issued an official response yet. Observers note that the move underscores the continuing role of religious institutions in addressing social issues within Punjab’s political landscape.
The Akal Takht’s decision was announced after a panel of religious scholars examined the allegations and concluded that the conduct warranted disciplinary action. A tanakhai is a religious censure that bars the individual from participating in Sikh congregational activities and can affect their standing within the community.
The ruling places the MLA under significant moral and political pressure, as the AAP has not issued an official response yet. Observers note that the move underscores the continuing role of religious institutions in addressing social issues within Punjab’s political landscape.