Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Wednesday condemned the attack on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Badal at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Dewan in Nanded, Maharashtra. Badal was allegedly attacked with a sharp-edged weapon by a Nihang while at the gurdwara. He sustained an injury to his hand and was taken to a private hospital, where he was reported to be out of danger.

The Jathedar termed the incident highly unfortunate, particularly because it occurred at a gurdwara where devotees gather to offer prayers. He stressed that violence at a place of worship undermines the dignity of the gurdwara and affects the image of the Sikh community. The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, condemned the incident and expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Badal was reportedly attacked with a kirpan, while his driver also sustained injuries during the incident. The SAD chief was subsequently shifted to hospital for treatment. Visuals from the incident showed Badal walking with a cloth wrapped around his right hand following the attack. Police and investigating agencies are expected to establish the circumstances that led to the incident and determine the motive of the accused.

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The attack also drew criticism from senior SAD leaders, who raised concerns over security arrangements. SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema described the incident as distressing and termed it the second life-threatening attack on Badal within a relatively short period. He also questioned whether lessons had been learnt from the earlier attack against the SAD chief in Amritsar.

Badal had previously faced an attack on December 4, 2024, while performing duties as a Sewadar at the entrance of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Referring to the earlier incident, Cheema raised concerns over the investigation and security arrangements, arguing that a proper probe into the previous attack could have helped prevent a recurrence.

Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia also attributed the latest incident to an alleged intelligence failure and urged investigating agencies to examine the circumstances thoroughly. The latest attack has prompted renewed questions over security arrangements for Badal and the need for authorities to establish how the assailant was able to approach him at the gurdwara.

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