Sukhbir Badal’s First Reaction After Nanded Attack: 'I Am Not Afraid', Says 'Forces Don’t Want Peace'

Nanded: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday said he was “not afraid” following the attack on him at a gurdwara in Maharashtra’s Nanded, alleging that certain forces were attempting to disturb peace and communal harmony in Punjab.

Badal made the remarks after being discharged from a hospital in Nanded, where he underwent treatment following the attack. He said he was “feeling perfect” and thanked the Almighty for saving his life.

“Not afraid and never will be,” Badal said, adding that he believed the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, had saved his life at Nanded Sahib.

The SAD chief alleged that “a lot of forces” did not want peace in Punjab and the country, and claimed that they viewed the Akali Dal as an obstacle to their mission. He said the party would not allow any attempt to disturb peace in the state.

“Their mission is to take control of the situation in Punjab and disturb the peace, which, as President of Akali Dal, I will never allow,” Badal said.

Badal reiterated that the SAD was committed to preserving Punjab’s brotherhood, communal harmony and pride. Referring to his late father and former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, he said his family had worked to maintain peace in the state and that he would continue on the same path.

Attack At Nanded Gurdwara

Badal was attacked at around 1:45 pm on Thursday while visiting Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat near Nanded. According to reports, the attacker allegedly used a kirpan, injuring Badal’s right hand. He was subsequently taken to a private hospital for treatment.

The accused was identified by police as Jaspal Singh, a resident of Pune who had reportedly been serving as a sewadar at the gurdwara. He was detained at the spot and is being questioned as part of the investigation into the attack and its motive.

Badal sustained an injury to his hand and received stitches. Reports said he later underwent surgery for a tendon injury and nerve damage before being discharged after nearly 24 hours in hospital.

A Maharashtra Police Special Protection Unit inspector, Santosh Vaijnath Kendre, was also injured while intervening during the attack. Badal’s wife, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, later thanked Kendre for stepping in and protecting her husband.

Second Attack In Two Years

Friday’s incident was the second reported attack on Sukhbir Badal in less than two years. In December 2024, he survived an assassination attempt outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar while performing sewadar duty following a religious punishment pronounced against him by the Akal Takht.

Drawing a parallel between the two incidents, Badal noted that both attacks took place at Sikh religious sites. Despite the attacks, he said he remained committed to maintaining peace and communal harmony in Punjab.

The Nanded attack has triggered condemnation from political and religious leaders, while Maharashtra authorities have ordered a probe into the incident.

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