The SAD core committee, led by Balwinder Singh Bhundar, called the attack a conspiracy by AAP.
Chandigarh: The attack on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal during his penance as a sewadar at Sri Darbar Sahib has been described as a deliberate and full-scale assault on Sikh traditions, Khalsa heritage, and the sacred institutions established by Sikh Gurus. It has sparked anger among Sikh leaders and netizens, as radicals attempt to present a case of provocation behind the incident, and fears of resurging Khalistani forces in Punjab have resurfaced.
Narain Singh Chaura, who fired at Sukhbir Singh Badal at Sri Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, was produced in court by the police on Saturday and has been sent to a three-day police remand. On Wednesday, the SAD leader narrowly escaped an assassination bid after Chaura, a pro-Khalistan sympathiser, opened fire at him outside the Golden Temple in Punjab’s Amritsar, where he was performing penance. Lawyer Kanwar Mubarak Singh stated that the police had sought a seven-day police remand from the court, but the court granted only three days. Notably, when Narain Singh Chaura was presented in court, a woman created a significant commotion and raised slogans in favor of Chaura.
The core committee of SAD met under Acting President Balwinder Singh Bhundar. The entire act was described by the party as part of a wider conspiracy. The committee has accused the AAP-led Punjab government of sponsoring such acts to eliminate the moderate Akali leadership committed to the principle of sarbat da bhala, as propounded by Guru Sahiban. The committee termed it a direct assault on the ideology of Miri Piri, represented by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, and the sanctity of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, which now bears the “unholy marks” of the attacker’s bullet. The committee likened these marks to those of the 1984 Operation Bluestar and said these actions were aimed at denigrating Sikh heritage.
Leaders in the SAD lamented this revived reprisal against militancy, stating that the attacker was not acting independently but was part of a “pack of wolves” encouraged by powerful anti-Sikh forces. According to SAD leaders, a senior Punjab Police officer sent this killer to Sukhbir Badal. They accused the police of being complicit in the attack. Specifically, they pointed fingers at Superintendent of Police (SP) Harpal Randhawa, alleging that he facilitated the attack. Leaders Bikram Singh Majithia and Dr. Daljit Cheema elaborated on how SP Randhawa created distance between Badal and his supporters, including youth leaders and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) members. They alleged Randhawa had instructed them to move away from Badal, using routine excuses.
Majithia further alleged that the attacker had been conducting reconnaissance at the Golden Temple under police watch. Footage from the Darbar Sahib complex reportedly showed SP Randhawa shaking hands with Chaura the day before the attack, raising suspicions. The SAD criticised the Punjab Police for failing to arrest Chaura while he was roaming the high-security zone. Majithia also criticized Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar for allegedly downplaying the incident and allowing media narratives to frame the attack as staged to gain sympathy votes for Sukhbir Badal.
The core committee passed a resolution asserting that the attack was a conspiracy against the moderate SAD leadership. It condemned the incident as a grave assault on the sanctity of Sri Darbar Sahib, occurring while Sukhbir Badal was performing voluntary service at the shrine. The committee also criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of belittling the gravity of the attack by failing to address the security lapse.
Amidst this, the bravery of ASI Jasbir Singh, who thwarted the assassination attempt despite not being on official duty, was lauded. The SAD highlighted how Jasbir Singh demonstrated selfless courage in countering the attacker. The party also criticized claims by Amritsar Police Commissioner Bhullar that 175 police personnel were stationed at the shrine, asserting that Jasbir Singh’s voluntary presence exposed serious security gaps.
The core committee decided to petition the Punjab Governor for an independent inquiry into the matter, rejecting the ongoing police investigation as biased. They demanded accountability over SP Randhawa’s alleged involvement and questioned why Chaura, a known militant, was granted unrestricted access to the Darbar Sahib.
Parallel to this, ideological concerns emerged about the alignment of some Akali leaders. SAD leaders questioned the presence of Gurpartap Singh Wadala at a Dal Khalsa event in Moga, raising doubts about his stance on Dal Khalsa’s support for Khalistan and its opposition to the Indian Constitution. The leaders demanded clarification on his position regarding the organization’s ideology.
The Akal Takht Singh Sahibs strongly condemned the attack, describing it as an outright assault on Sikh values, institutions, and ideology. They called for caution in light of the mysterious resurfacing of Khalistani elements and emphasized vigilance.
As political and religious fallout continues, the incident has stirred fears of renewed unrest and exposed critical lapses in Punjab’s security framework.