SAD demands probe after kirpan attack on chief Sukhbir Singh Badal
AMRITSAR/BATHINDA: The attack on Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal in Maharashtra’s Nanded on Thursday was the second in 20 months.On Dec 4, 2024, the former deputy CM was attacked by alleged pro-Khalistan activist Narayan Singh Chaura while undergoing penance outside the Golden Temple, Amritsar. Pistol drawn, the assailant advanced towards Sukhbir but a Sewadar spotted the danger and pushed the gunman’s arm upwards, causing the bullet to be fired into the air instead of at Sukhbir. The dramatic scenes were caught on camera.The 2024 attack took place on the second day of the penance pronounced by Akal Takht in connection with incidents of sacrilege and the controversial pardon granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
On Thursday, at Nanded — one of the five Takhts of Sikhs — Sukhbir was attacked with a kirpan while heading towards the langar hall after paying obeisance at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Complex. “It’s a deep-rooted conspiracy to eliminate Sukhbir Singh Badal as SAD is turning out to be a real contender in the 2027 assembly elections. The earlier attack at the gates of Golden Temple also pointed towards a similar conspiracy as it was not taken seriously and impartial investigations were not conducted. We demand a high-level investigation into the Nanded attack,” SAD functionary and former MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha told TOI.“A particular political party is in pain after reports of an alliance with BJP started emerging, whether the alliance is taking shape or not is another issue,” he added.Former minister Daljit Singh Cheema also saw a conspiracy to kill the SAD chief. SAD spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kaler condemned the attack and urged Maharashtra govt to “look into the matter seriously”.Hardliners see the attack on Sukhbir as a sign that the anger against him for acts of sacrilege and the killing of two protesters at Behbal Kalan on Oct 14, 2015, during the SAD-BJP govt, hasn’t died down.
