Assassination attempt on Sukhbir Badal while he performs penance at Golden Temple

This morning, an assassination attempt was made on Sukhbir Singh Badal while he was performing penance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The shooter, identified as Narain Singh from Gurdaspur, was overpowered by bystanders, and no one was injured in the incident. Police are investigating the motive behind the attack.

Badal, the 62-year-old Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, has been serving a religious punishment, or ‘tankhah,’ for his alleged mistakes during his party’s rule from 2007 to 2017. As part of his penance, he has been performing ‘sewadar’ duties, such as washing dishes and cleaning shoes at the Golden Temple. For the past two days, Badal has sat at the temple gate, dressed in a blue uniform, holding a spear, and confined to a wheelchair due to an injury.

The shooting occurred around 9 am as Badal took his position at the Golden Temple gate. Narain Singh approached him, pulled out a gun, and fired. A nearby man quickly reacted, preventing the shooter from getting a clear shot. The bullet hit a wall instead of its intended target. Singh was immediately arrested, and the police are working to uncover the reasons behind the attack.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann praised the police for their swift action, saying it thwarted a conspiracy to defame the state. Police officers Rishpal Singh, Jasbir, and Parminder Singh were commended for their quick response. Singh, who has a criminal record and alleged links to the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa, is suspected of masterminding the 2004 Burail jailbreak.

Badal’s punishment was issued after he admitted to his mistakes, including pardoning controversial Dera Sacha Sauda leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh during his tenure. The Akal Takht had declared Badal ‘tankhaiya’ for religious misconduct, leading to his penance.

Political leaders have reacted strongly to the attack. SAD MP Naresh Gujral condemned the law and order situation in Punjab, while BJP leader Vijay Sampla called the attack an assault on the Golden Temple. Congress MP Manish Tewari expressed concern over Badal’s safety. AAP leader Aman Arora, however, defended the police, asserting that the incident was isolated and well-handled.

This incident has sparked a debate over Punjab’s security, with some questioning the state’s law and order while others emphasize the swift police response.