Mumbai: Sukhbir Badal’s attacker has been taken into custody after he struck the former Punjab deputy chief minister with a kirpan in Maharashtra’s Nanded Thursday.
The motive and more details about the attacker are yet to be ascertained.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled Lok Sabha MP and Sukhbir’s wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal and inquired about his health, ANI reported. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an inquiry.
According to police sources, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief suffered injuries to his hand and was immediately rushed to a private hospital nearby.
Sukhbir was in Nanded with his family to visit the Mata Sahib Kaur Gurdwara, located on the outskirts. Nanded is home to Gurdwara Nanded Sahib is one of the five Takhts, or temporal seats, of Sikhism.
According to police sources, one of Sukhbir’s security personnel was also injured in the attack.
BJP spokesperson RP Singh condemned the attack on X. “I strongly condemn the attack on S. Sukhbir Singh Badal Ji in Nanded. Such an act of violence is completely unacceptable and has no place whatsoever in a democratic society… I appeal to Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis Ji to ensure that this incident is thoroughly and impartially investigated, the circumstances and motive behind the attack are established, and strict action is taken against all those responsible in accordance with law.”
He added: “Violence cannot be allowed to become a means of expressing political or personal differences.”
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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