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PM Modi inquires about Sukhbir Singh Badal's health after ‘kirpan attack’ in Nanded
Narendra Modi inquired about former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s health in a phone conversation with his wife.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and inquired about the health of her husband and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was injured in an attack at a gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra, sources said.
Badal was accompanied by his wife, Harsimrat, at the time of the incident.
Badal was reportedly attacked by a man dressed in Nihang attire with a kirpan at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur on Thursday. He sustained an injury to his hand and was subsequently taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The incident took place when Badal was reportedly heading towards the langar hall after paying obeisance at the gurdwara. The shrine is located around 15 km from Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, one of the five Takhts, or temporal seats, of Sikhism.
The attack comes days after Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 7, a meeting that had sparked speculation about a possible rapprochement between the SAD and BJP ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, reported news agency PTI.
Fadnavis orders inquiry
Meanwhil, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an inquiry into the reported attack, a PTI report said.
This was the second reported attack on Badal in less than two years. In December 2024, he survived an assassination bid outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar when former militant Narain Singh Chaura allegedly opened fire at him from close range. A security officer intervened, causing the bullet to miss Badal and hit a wall. Chaura was later overpowered and arrested.
Deep Dive
SAD calls it ‘close-range’ attack
Sharing update after the attack, the Shiromani Akali Dal said Badal was doing well and remained in “high spirits”. The SAD described the incident as a “close-range” attack.
SAD spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kler said the attacker attempted to target Badal but was stopped by security personnel accompanying the party chief.
Kler said Badal suffered a minor injury to his arm and was undergoing treatment at a hospital. “Badal sustained a minor injury on his arm and is undergoing treatment at a hospital. He is completely fine and in 'Chardi Kala' (high spirits),” he said.
Alleging that “panthic leaders” were being targeted repeatedly, Kler said, “Some 'panth virodhi' (anti-panth) forces are hatching such conspiracies.”
Kler said the state Police would investigate the incident and determine whether there was any conspiracy behind the attack.
