Assassination Attempt on Sukhbir Singh Badal at Golden Temple; Investigation Underway

In a shocking turn of events, a man opened fire at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal at the entrance of the Golden Temple on Wednesday. However, temple officials acted swiftly, subduing the shooter before he could inflict any harm. The gunshot missed Badal, hitting a nearby wall. A video from the scene shows Badal ducking for cover when the shooter, identified as Narain Singh, drew his weapon.

Badal, a former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab is currently fulfilling a penance assigned to him by the Akal Takht, was sitting at the temple entrance in a blue 'sewadar' uniform, holding a spear despite being in a wheelchair with a cast on his leg. Badal’s religious penance, which began after he and other SAD leaders were found guilty of errors during the party's rule from 2007 to 2017, involves performing various 'sewadar' duties at the Golden Temple and other gurdwaras, such as washing dishes and cleaning shoes.

Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar confirmed that Narain Singh, who has a criminal background, was arrested at the scene. Authorities are investigating the incident, including possible links to extremist groups. Bhullar also addressed the challenges of securing the Golden Temple, stating that due to religious sensitivities, uniformed police are not deployed at the site and frisking visitors is difficult. He commended the prompt response from the police officers who managed to prevent the situation from escalating.

According to reports, Narain Singh has alleged connections with the Khalistani terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa. He is believed to have masterminded the 2004 Burail jailbreak, where several notorious criminals, including Jagtar Singh Hawara, involved in the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, escaped from prison.

The incident has stirred political controversy, with both the Congress and SAD criticizing the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for its handling of law and order. SAD senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema called for a judicial inquiry, describing the attack as part of a "big conspiracy" to plunge Punjab back into chaos. "I want to ask Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann what he has done for the state," Cheema said.

Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also blamed the AAP government for what he called "100% negligence" in the incident. "This shows the condition of the law and order situation in Punjab. The ACP should be suspended, and immediate action should be taken against him," Warring demanded. He further criticized the government, stating, "The government is waiting for someone to be killed, and then they can say it was a lapse... There might be hatred for Sukhbir Badal in the minds of Sikhs, but it doesn't mean you will shoot him."