Chandigarh, December 4
On Wednesday, Manish Tewari, the Congress Member of Parliament (MP) from Chandigarh, strongly condemned the attack on Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal and called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
Speaking to the media outside Parliament in New Delhi, Tewari remarked, “This is a very sad and condemnable incident. Shri Akal Takht is the highest temporal authority for Sikhs, and if any action was taken against Sukhbir Singh Badal, it must be noted that he was humbly atoning for his past mistakes. The attack on him is deeply unfortunate.”
Tewari expressed gratitude that Badal was unharmed, stating, “Thank God that Sukhbir Badal is safe. This attack must be investigated thoroughly, and the person responsible should be held accountable.”
Sukhbir Badal was targeted by Narayan Singh Chaura, a former Khalistani militant, while performing his duties as a ‘sewadar’ outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Senior BJP leader Capt Amarinder Singh also condemned the attack and expressed relief that Sukhbir Badal remained safe. He praised ASI Jasbir Singh, who acted swiftly to subdue the assailant and prevent the bullet from striking Badal.
Capt Amarinder stated that the perpetrators of the attack had violated Sikh values. He emphasized that Punjab had already endured significant suffering during the 1980s and 1990s and could not afford to revisit such a dark period. He urged the public to stay vigilant against forces attempting to disrupt peace in the state.
Sunil Jakhar, the BJP’s Punjab unit chief, condemned the attack on Badal near Harmandir Sahib, stating, “No words are enough to condemn the attack on Sukhbir Badal in such a sacred place. No true Sikh would ever commit such a cowardly and disgraceful act.”
Jakhar also criticized the Punjab government for its failure to maintain law and order in the state.
Manpreet Singh Badal, a BJP leader and cousin of Sukhbir Singh Badal, called the attack “dastardly” and reiterated that violence had no place in politics. He added, “The government’s primary duty is to ensure the safety of its citizens. Political disagreements should be resolved through dialogue and voting, not violence. I pray for Sukhbir Badal’s safety and for everyone affected.”
He further stated, “Punjab has already endured immense suffering in 1947, 1966, and 1984. We cannot, and will not, let the hard-earned peace be disrupted.”
Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, a leader from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), called the incident deeply troubling. “The attack on someone performing service at such a holy site has deeply shaken the Sikh community. To target a person serving in the Guru’s presence is a dishonorable act against the Sikh world,” he remarked.
Chandumajra pointed out that the attack on Punjab’s former deputy chief minister was not just a personal threat but also highlighted the worsening law and order situation in the state. He demanded that a high-level judicial inquiry be conducted into the matter.
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