Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal described an attack on him by a Nihang member using a kirpan in Maharashtra’s Nanded as part of a wider plot to seize control in Punjab and disrupt state peace. Speaking to reporters after hospital discharge, Badal said the aim was to influence the state’s political and social environment ahead of the 2027 assembly elections and harm communal harmony. He stated that as Akali Dal president he would not permit such efforts, noting prior attacks at sacred locations. Badal affirmed the party would not yield and prioritised Punjab’s progress along with religious and communal unity. He underwent about 90 minutes of surgery for a tendon injury and a five-centimetre forearm wound at a local hospital, where doctors reported him stable and out of danger. A police officer injured while intervening also remained stable. The assault followed an earlier attempt on Badal at the Golden Temple in December 2024. Police registered charges including attempt to murder against the accused, identified as Jaspal Singh from Pune, who had served as a volunteer at the gurdwara.
