Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President and former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal has been fatally attacked at the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib complex in Nanded, Maharashtra. On Thursday, a Nihang tried to attack Sukhbir Badal with a saber when he came to pay obeisance at Gurudwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji. Sukhbir suffered serious injuries on his right hand in the attack, while a policeman deployed for security was also injured while trying to save him. The attacker was caught on the spot. Sukhbir Badal is the head of the Shiromani Akali Dal which the Sikhs have been considering as their party for more than 100 years, but now the Nihangs are attacking Sukhbir Badal.
The attack on Sukhbir Badal took place on Thursday afternoon at around quarter to two. Sukhbir Badal had reached Gurudwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji with his wife and MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, daughters and son-in-law. After the darshan, when he was coming down the stairs, a person present there suddenly took out a saber and attacked him. According to police and eyewitnesses, the attacker attacked from very close range. Sukhbir Badal put his hand forward in defense, due to which the saber could not reach his chest and his hand got injured. The security personnel immediately caught the attacker.
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Who attacked?
The attacker has been identified as 62-year-old Jaspal Singh. He is said to be a resident of Pune and was working as a sevadar in the Gurudwara for about two years. According to the police, he has also practiced law in the past and at present no information about any of his previous criminal records has been revealed.
Initial information has come to light during police interrogation regarding the reason for the attack. According to Nanded Superintendent of Police Nilabh Rohan, during interrogation, Jaspal Singh said that he was angry over the increasing drug problem in Punjab and in this anger he targeted Sukhbir Badal. According to the police, the accused also told that his intention was to attack Sukhbir on the chest. However, the police have not yet considered this as the final reason for the attack. The interrogation of the accused is ongoing and his contacts, background and any possible conspiracy are also being investigated. Police and anti-terrorism squad are investigating different aspects of the case. No criminal or gang connections have been confirmed yet.
How is Sukhbir's condition?
After the attack, Sukhbir Badal was immediately taken to the hospital. Initial information revealed that there was a cut on his hand and stitches were required. Later, Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia said that the injury was serious and there was a fracture in the bone of the hand. According to Majithia, about 150 stitches have been given to Sukhbir and now he is out of danger. Majithia also said that the attacker's target was Sukhbir's heart, but he was saved by the grace of Guru Sahib.
Attack happened earlier also
This is not the first time that Sukhbir Badal has been targeted at a religious place. On December 4, 2024, Narayan Singh Chaudhary had allegedly tried to shoot at Sukhbir who was doing sevadar duty outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar. However, people present nearby saved him and he was not shot. This is the second major attack on him within about two years.
After all, why is the Panthak group angry?
Sukhbir Badal is the chief of Shiromani Akali Dal. His father Parkash Singh Badal was a big leader of the party and was the CM of Punjab several times. Sukhbir Badal was also a minister and deputy CM in his cabinet. Akali Dal has been raising the voice of Sikhs for the last 100 years and till now it has been considered a big party of Sikhs. However, today the party has lost its political existence to a great extent and is again searching for ground. In 2017, the party suffered a massive defeat and was out of power. After this, the party is continuously becoming weak and a large section of the Sikh society has become angry with him. Many reasons account for this.
- The sacrilege incidents of 2015 and the role of the then Akali government regarding the Bargadi case.
- Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura police firing, resulting in the death of two protesters in Behbal Kalan.
- Controversy over granting amnesty to Dera Sachcha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim. Questions were raised regarding the role of Sukhbir Badal in this decision.
- Accusations of Akali Dal being Badal family-centric and moving away from Panthak issues.
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Challenge in front of Sukhbir Badal
Sukhbir Badal now has to save his political credibility and win back his strong base i.e. Panthak vote. However, it will not be easy for them as many fundamentalist Sikh parties have emerged in Punjab. Amritpal's pro-Khalistani Shiromani Akali Dal (Warid Punjab De) has tried to bring together sect leaders on one platform and is preparing for the upcoming assembly elections. In such a situation, more difficulties have arisen in front of Sukhbir Badal. Now questions are being raised regarding his safety.