Nanded/Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was injured in a ‘kirpan’ attack by a member of the Nihang order inside a gurdwara on the outskirts of Maharashtra’s Nanded town on Thursday, police said.
The former Punjab deputy chief minister, who escaped an attempt on his life at the Golden Temple entrance in December 2024, was rushed to hospital where he received two to three stitches on his right hand. The attacker has been arrested.
SAD leaders termed the attack, which took place around 1.45 pm at the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat, about 15 km from Nanded, an intelligence failure and said the party chief was fine and in high spirits. Senior leaders, including Badal’s brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia, demanded a CBI probe into the matter.
“A Nihang (member of a martial order of Sikhs) attacked Badal with a kirpan (ceremonial dagger) inside the gurdwara. The attacker has been taken into custody,” Nanded Superintendent of Police Neelabh Rohan told PTI.
Police officer Santosh Kendre, who was part of the special protection unit, was injured while protecting him. Badal was going down a flight of stairs at the time.
Visuals showed Badal walking inside a hospital building with a cloth wrapped around his right hand.
Badal is protected by Z plus category security.
However, he is entitled to CISF cover only in Punjab and Delhi with a deployment of around 40 personnel. Punjab Police personnel were with him when the attack took place.
Earlier in the day, the 64-year-old SAD chief visited the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, which is one of the five Takhts of Sikhism, along with wife and Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Harsimrat Kaur, who had been part of the Modi government, to inquire about his health.
Badal had met the prime minister earlier this month, igniting speculation about the possibility of the Punjab-based party joining hands with the BJP again ahead of the Punjab assembly elections due early next year. The SAD left the NDA six years ago following differences over the three agriculture laws that were later withdrawn by the Modi government.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has ordered a probe into the attack, also called up the SAD chief to ask about his health.
Fadnavis sought information about the incident from the Nanded SP and directed the police to investigate the motive behind the attack, sources said.
The Badal family was visiting Maharashtra from August 12-14, said Majithia. “It is a total intelligence failure. We need to realise that no one attacks at ‘Guru ghar’. Those who are atheists do such acts,” he told PTI.
“Badal sustained a minor injury on his arm and is undergoing treatment at a hospital. He is completely fine and in ‘chardi kala’ (high spirits),” said SAD spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kler said.
Kler said Maharashtra police will investigate the attack since it took place in the state. He alleged that ‘panthic leaders’ were being targeted continuously and the target of conspiracies.
Strongly condemning the attack, Kler said Badal had faced an attack earlier as well and that the Almighty had saved him then and again on Thursday.
“There should be a thorough probe. Who are the forces behind such attack…,” added his party colleague Virsa Singh Valtoha.
Condemnation for the attack came in from all quarters.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said, “Unfortunately, such an incident has taken place at such a sacred place. A person who commits such an act cannot be a Sikh.”
Such an incident, he said not only undermines the dignity and sanctity of gurdwaras but also causes serious damage to the image of the Sikh community.
“We strongly condemn the attack on Badal. Such attacks should not take place,” Punjab’s ruling AAP general secretary Baltej Pannu said.
Senior BJP leader R P Singh said such an act of violence is completely unacceptable and has no place whatsoever in a democratic society. “Political differences and disagreements are a natural part of democracy, but resorting to violence can never be justified,” Singh said in a post on X.
Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon said “Violence has no place, especially on the soil of our sacred Takhts”.
In Maharashtra, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said he prayed for Badal’s speedy recovery.
“An attack on a leader like Badal in Nanded is something that makes Maharashtra hang its head in shame and puts the government’s reputation at stake. The real faces of the attacker and those behind the incident should come to light and they should be given strict punishment,” he said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve joined in the condemnation.
“Although the person who carried out the attack has been taken into custody, the police should thoroughly investigate the matter,” he said
The audacious December 2024 attack took place while Badal was performing ‘sewadar’ duty as a guard at the temple entrance after the Akal Takht pronounced the ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) for “mistakes” committed during his party’s rule in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.
The man, identified as Narain Singh Chaura, was overpowered by people present on the spot and handed over to the police.
Chaura had walked towards Badal, who was sitting in a wheelchair due to a fractured leg, and pulled out a gun from his pocket.
