'Big Conspiracy', 'Condemnable': Opposition Slams AAP After Sukhbir Badal Attacked At Golden Temple

Despite this attack, Sukhbir Singh Badal said that he would continue offering 'seva' under the religious punishments pronounced by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

After Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked outside the Golden Temple on Wednesday, party leader Daljit Singh Cheema said that it was a “big conspiracy to push Punjab back into the fire”. He added, “I thank God for saving his life…” 

He questioned  Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, “what has he done to the state”. 

Meanwhile, BJP national secretary, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, said that the act was “Shocking and condemnable!”. He said that the attack was SAD chief in the sacred premises of “Sri Harmandir Sahib is not just a security lapse but a grave breach of the sanctity of our religious institutions”

He claimed that the government had failed to ensure the safety of the citizens “and uphold the dignity of holy places”. “Like Delhi, now Punjab is paying the price of trusting AAP’s lies!!”, he added.

Congress MP Manish Tewari says, "It is extremely sad and condemnable. Sri Akal Takht Sahib is the biggest religious organisation for Sikhs and Sukhbir Singh Badal was completing his punishment but attacking him is highly condemnable. An investigation should be done and action should be taken against the responsible people..."

Meanwhile, CM Bhagwant Mann said that the "Punjab police prevented a major incident  happening today." He said the promptness of the police, "the conspiracy to defame Punjab and Punjabis has failed". 

"The police achieved great success by arresting the assailant on the spot. I appreciate the promptness of the police, I strongly condemn the attack on Sukhbir Badal. I have issued strict instructions to the police to immediately investigate the incident and submit a report", Mann added.

Despite the attack, Sukhbir Singh Badal has said that will continue offering 'seva' under the religious punishments pronounced by Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Bullets were fired at Golden Temple premises in Amritsar where SAD leaders were offering 'seva'.

Television footage showed the shooter slowly walking towards Badal, who was sitting in a wheelchair due to a fractured leg, and pulling out a gun from his pocket. A man standing near Badal quickly intervened and grabbed the attacker's hands. In the melee, a bullet hit the wall behind Badal, who escaped unhurt.

The shooter has been identified as Narain Singh Chaura, a resident of Dera Baba Nanak allegedly a former militant. After the attack, he was whisked away by security officials.