Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal was discharged from a private hospital in Nanded on Friday, a day after he was attacked at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Maharashtra. Speaking to reporters before leaving Nanded, Badal said the incident would not deter him from working for peace and communal harmony in Punjab.
‘I Have Never Been Afraid, Nor Will I Ever Be’
Wearing a sling on his right arm, Sukhbir Badal appeared energetic as he interacted with the media before boarding a flight to Punjab. He said he would not be intimidated by those attempting to disturb peace in the state.
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“Na main kade dariya han te na main kade darunga,” Badal said, meaning that he had never been afraid and would never be afraid.
He said forces opposed to peace and communal harmony had attempted to target him, but expressed gratitude to the Almighty for protecting him. According to Badal, the Shiromani Akali Dal stands for communal harmony and is prepared to make sacrifices for Punjab.
He said the development of Punjab and the country remained a priority for the party, while religious and communal harmony would continue to be its foremost concern.
Attack Took Place at Hazur Sahib
Badal was attacked on Thursday afternoon at the Mata Saheb Gurdwara complex in Hazur Sahib. The alleged attacker, identified as Jaspal Singh, was dressed in Nihang attire.
Badal sustained an injury to his hand during the incident. A Maharashtra Police security official, Inspector Santosh Vaijnath Kendre, was also injured while intervening during the attack.
Badal was subsequently taken to a private hospital in Nanded for treatment and was discharged on Friday.
Badal Links Attack to Threats Against Punjab’s Peace
After his discharge, Badal alleged that forces seeking to control the situation in Punjab had attempted to target him on more than one occasion.
He referred to the latest incident as the second such attack in a prominent Sikh religious shrine in less than two years. Badal recalled that he had also been targeted at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar in December 2024.
He said his father, former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, had never compromised on communal harmony and had always advocated peaceful coexistence among different communities and respect for all religions.
According to Sukhbir Badal, the Shiromani Akali Dal would not allow attempts to disturb Punjab’s peace to succeed.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal Meets Injured Police Officer
Earlier on Friday, Sukhbir Badal’s wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal paid obeisance at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib. An ardas was also performed for Sukhbir Badal’s recovery and good health.
Harsimrat Kaur met Inspector Santosh Vaijnath Kendre, who was injured while intervening during the attack. She praised the police officer for his courage and credited him with protecting Sukhbir Badal by standing between him and the attacker.
She also thanked the doctors and staff at Yashosai Hospital for their care and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for enquiring about Sukhbir Badal’s condition.
Majithia Seeks NIA Investigation
Meanwhile, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia called for the investigation into the Nanded attack to be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He had earlier demanded a CBI probe.
Majithia also shared photographs of a sharp-edged weapon that he claimed was used in the attack.
The Nanded incident has renewed attention on security around prominent Sikh religious shrines and the political tensions surrounding Sukhbir Badal. The SAD has maintained that preserving peace and communal harmony in Punjab remains a central priority.
Second Attack on Sukhbir Badal at a Sikh Shrine
The Nanded incident comes less than two years after Sukhbir Badal was attacked at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar.
On December 4, 2024, while Badal was performing religious service as part of the punishment prescribed by the Akal Takht, Nirmal Singh Chaura allegedly opened fire at him. Badal escaped unharmed and Chaura was arrested shortly after the incident.
Following his discharge from the Nanded hospital, Sukhbir Badal reiterated that such attacks would not frighten him or stop him from advocating peace and communal harmony in Punjab.
