Sukhbir Badal attacked at Nanded gurdwara; Akal Takht condemns assault
Synopsis
Sukhbir Badal, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, was attacked with a kirpan by a Nihang inside a gurdwara in Nanded — the second assault on him in under a year. The Akal Takht, Sikhism's highest temporal seat, has condemned the violence. SAD leaders are calling it a glaring intelligence and security failure that authorities cannot afford to ignore.
Key Takeaways
Sukhbir Singh Badal , SAD president, was attacked with a kirpan by a Nihang at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Dewan , Nanded , on 13 August .
Badal sustained an injury to his right hand ; his condition is stable at a private hospital in Nanded.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj strongly condemned the attack, calling it 'highly unfortunate and condemnable.' This is the second attack on Badal — the first occurred on 4 December 2024 at the Golden Temple , Amritsar.
SAD leaders Daljit Singh Cheema and Bikram Singh Majithia termed the incident a 'massive intelligence and security failure.' Badal's driver was also injured in the assault.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal survived a life-threatening attack on Wednesday, 13 August, when a Nihang allegedly struck him with a kirpan at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Dewan in Nanded, Maharashtra. Badal sustained an injury to his right hand and was rushed to a private hospital in Nanded, where his condition is reported to be stable.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj swiftly and strongly condemned the assault, calling it 'highly unfortunate and condemnable.' The Akal Takht is the highest temporal seat of Sikh authority.
What Happened at the Gurdwara
The accused reportedly approached Badal within the premises of the gurdwara and attacked him with a kirpan, a ceremonial Sikh blade. A video that circulated after the incident showed the SAD chief walking with a cloth wrapped around his right hand. His driver was also injured during the attack. Badal was subsequently shifted to a private hospital in Nanded, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
Akal Takht's Condemnation
Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj said that a gurdwara is a place 'where devotees gather to pray for the welfare of all,' and that any act of violence within its precincts is deeply condemnable. He stressed that 'a true Sikh cannot attack anyone who has come to pay obeisance at a gurdwara,' adding that such incidents damage both the sanctity of gurdwaras and the broader image of the Sikh community.
Second Attack on Badal in Months
This is the second assault on Sukhbir Badal within a short span. On 4 December 2024, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab was attacked while performing sewadar duties at the gate of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. SAD senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema described the Nanded attack as 'distressing news' and called it 'a massive intelligence and security failure,' arguing that a thorough investigation after the Amritsar incident could have prevented the second assault.
SAD Leaders Demand Accountability
Another senior Akali leader, Bikram Singh Majithia, also attributed the attack to an intelligence failure, demanding that investigating agencies 'get to the bottom of it.' Both leaders called for a comprehensive security review, raising pointed questions about the protection arrangements for a prominent national opposition figure visiting a religious site.
What Happens Next
Badal is currently under medical care in Nanded and is out of immediate danger. The circumstances surrounding the attacker's identity and motive are under investigation, according to reports. With two attacks now on record, pressure is mounting on security agencies and political authorities to explain how a sitting national party president was left exposed at a major religious site for the second time in under a year.
Point of View
It did not. The Akal Takht's condemnation carries moral weight, but the harder accountability lies with the intelligence and law-enforcement apparatus that allowed a repeat. If SAD's framing of 'security failure' is borne out by investigation, the political fallout will extend well beyond Punjab.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Sukhbir Badal at Nanded?
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a kirpan by a Nihang at Gurdwara Mata Sahib Dewan in Nanded, Maharashtra, on 13 August. He sustained an injury to his right hand and is currently stable at a private hospital in Nanded.
What did the Akal Takht say about the attack?
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj strongly condemned the attack, calling it 'highly unfortunate and condemnable.' He said a true Sikh cannot attack anyone who has come to pay obeisance at a gurdwara, and that such acts damage the sanctity of gurdwaras and the image of the Sikh community.
Is this the first time Sukhbir Badal has been attacked?
No. This is the second attack on Badal within a short period. The first assault took place on 4 December 2024, when he was attacked while performing sewadar duties at the gate of the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
What is the Akal Takht?
The Akal Takht is the highest temporal seat of Sikh authority, located in Amritsar. Its Jathedar is empowered to issue religious edicts and speak on matters of significance to the Sikh community worldwide.
What are SAD leaders demanding after the attack?
Senior SAD leaders Daljit Singh Cheema and Bikram Singh Majithia have called the attack a massive intelligence and security failure, demanding a thorough investigation. Cheema argued that a proper probe after the first Amritsar attack could have prevented this second assault.
