Shiromani Akali Dal Denounces Attempted Murder of Sukhbir Badal

Amritsar, Dec 4 (NationPress) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday condemned the attempted murder of its President Sukhbir Badal as an assault on Sri Darbar Sahib, while he accused the Congress and its senior member Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa of harboring the assailant, Babbar Khalsa International 'militant' Narayan Singh Chaura.

SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia told reporters that the attack was intended to eradicate the moderate Akali leadership in Punjab and disrupt the peace of the border state by instigating a communal divide.

“We demand a high court-monitored investigation into the entire incident to reveal the full conspiracy behind it,” he stated.

Majithia emphasized that the service to the Akali leaders, including Sukhbir Badal, as directed by the Akal Takht, would persist relentlessly. “We will not be intimidated by such cowardly assaults.”

Majithia criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for lying and claiming false credit for apprehending the accused. He showcased video evidence demonstrating that police were absent from the crime scene, allowing the assailant to approach the Akali leader despite claims of surveillance by the Punjab Police.

“This suggests that this was a premeditated attack and that the assailant was a sponsored hitman linked to the ISI and other agencies, as well as a close associate of Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa,” he claimed.

He expressed gratitude towards Sukhbir Badal’s personal security personnel, Jasbir Singh, for thwarting the attack, stating, “Jasbir has been part of Sukhbir’s security detail for the past 20 years and is like family to the Badal family.”

Providing details about the attacker, Narayan Singh Chaura, the Akali leader mentioned that “Chaura is a notorious militant from whom bombs, an MP-5 machine gun, and an AK-47 have been seized.”

Majithia asserted that Narayan was the sibling of Narinder Singh Chaura and that Congress leader Sukhjinder Randhawa had facilitated Narinder's election to the Panchayat Samiti unanimously.

He also stated that two cases against Narayan Chaura were dismissed when the Congress held power, and that he was released in 2018 while Randhawa served as a minister in the Congress government.

Majithia further highlighted instances of Randhawa’s earlier support for associates of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).

Describing Chief Minister Mann’s performance as a complete failure in his role as home minister, Majithia remarked, “The state DGP and the Amritsar Police have significant questions to answer.”

He demanded an explanation on how a “notorious militant” was permitted to roam within the Sri Darbar Sahib complex for two days without being apprehended.

Majithia clarified that the perpetrator could not be identified as a Sikh as he committed the crime of attacking Sri Harmandar Sahib.

“Allowing such individuals to rise again will have perilous consequences for our border state,” he warned.

Khalistan sympathizer and assailant Narain Singh Chaura, reportedly a former militant with multiple cases against him and implicated in the notorious Burail jailbreak incident in Chandigarh in 2004, opened fire at Sukhbir Singh Badal while he was on punishment guard duty outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

In a captured video, Sukhbir Badal appeared in a blue 'sewadar' uniform holding a spear when the assailant drew his firearm at point-blank range. However, police responded quickly, subduing the assailant, who escaped unharmed as the bullet struck a wall.

According to police reports, Chaura had crossed into Pakistan in 1984 and played a role in smuggling weapons and explosives into Punjab during the early days of militancy. He was allegedly affiliated with the Khalistan Liberation Force and the Akal Federation. He remained a wanted figure in several cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act across Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Ropar districts.

While in Pakistan, he purportedly authored a book on guerrilla warfare and other “seditious” literature.