Sukhbir Badal, Attacked in Nanded, Breaks Silence: "I Am Not Afraid"
Sukhbir Badal speaks out after Nanded gurudwara attack, hand injured.
Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday said he was “feeling perfect” and was not afraid, a day after he was attacked during a visit to a gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra. Badal, 64, appeared before reporters after leaving a hospital, with his right hand in a cast. He was accompanied by his wife and a large security contingent. Despite the injury, Badal appeared composed and sought to reassure supporters following the incident.
The attack took place on Thursday when Badal was visiting a gurdwara in Nanded. According to the report, the attacker was wearing the attire associated with a Nihang Sikh and targeted the former Punjab deputy chief minister. Badal sustained an injury to his hand during the incident and was subsequently taken for medical attention. The attack occurred during his visit to the religious site, though the available information does not establish a motive for the assault.
Speaking to reporters after leaving the hospital, Badal said he was not afraid and suggested that forces opposed to peace in Punjab and the country were working against the Shiromani Akali Dal. “I am feeling perfect,” he said, while claiming that some forces view the Akali Dal as an obstacle to their objectives. His remarks came as security personnel surrounded him while he interacted with reporters outside the hospital. Badal’s statement marked his first public response following the attack.
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Badal also expressed his faith while speaking about the incident, saying that he was neither afraid nor scared and that “everything is in God's hand.” He thanked Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj and maintained a calm public demeanour despite the injury to his hand. The incident has drawn attention because of Badal’s political position and the circumstances in which he was attacked at a gurdwara. Further details about the investigation, the attacker and the circumstances surrounding the incident were not provided in the information available.
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