Sukhbir Badal attacked at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib; AAP condemns violence
Synopsis
Sukhbir Singh Badal has been attacked at a Sikh shrine for the second time in under a year — this time at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded. AAP's condemnation came wrapped in a pointed reminder: the Akali Dal's own record on the 2015 sacrilege incidents remains a festering wound in Punjab's political landscape.
Key Takeaways
Sukhbir Singh Badal , chief of the Shiromani Akali Dal , was attacked with a kirpan by a Nihang Sikh at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib , Nanded , on 13 August .
Badal is reported to be out of danger and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Nanded .
AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu condemned the attack but said the Akali Dal must acknowledge Sikh community grievances over the 2015 sacrilege incidents .
Pannu noted that two Sikhs were killed when peaceful protests over the 2015 desecrations were met with water cannons and firing.
This is the second attack on Badal at a Sikh religious site; he was previously attacked at the Golden Temple , Amritsar, on 4 December 2024 .
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon by a Nihang Sikh at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra, on 13 August, while he was present at the shrine with his family to pay obeisance. The accused reportedly used a kirpan in the assault. Badal is said to be out of danger and is receiving treatment at a private hospital in Nanded.
AAP Condemns the Attack
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab swiftly condemned the incident, asserting that violence has no place at a religious institution. AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said, 'The attack attempt should be condemned in the strongest terms. There is no place for such violence at a religious institution, and the sanctity of Gurdwara Sahibs must be respected.'
Pannu made clear that while the attack is unequivocally condemnable, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) must also reckon with the deep resentment that persists within the Sikh community over the 2015 sacrilege incidents.
The 2015 Sacrilege Incidents: Unresolved Grievances
Pannu pointed to the desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at multiple locations in Punjab in 2015, which occurred during a period when the Akali Dal was in power in the state. He noted that when Sikhs took to the streets in peaceful protest, authorities responded with water cannons and firing, resulting in the deaths of two Sikhs.
'The pain and resentment over those incidents continue to remain alive in the minds of Sikhs even today. This sentiment needs to be understood,' Pannu said. He argued that the Akali Dal, which has formed governments five times by seeking votes in the name of the Panth, cannot remain insulated from accountability for events that occurred under its watch.
A Pattern of Attacks on Badal
This is not the first time Badal has faced a physical threat at a Sikh religious site. 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. The recurrence of such incidents at sacred Sikh shrines has drawn attention to the depth of anger directed at Badal among certain sections of the community.
What Happens Next
Security arrangements at Sikh religious sites are likely to come under fresh scrutiny following this second high-profile attack on Badal. The political fallout — particularly for the SAD ahead of electoral cycles — and the broader question of unresolved justice in the 2015 sacrilege cases are expected to remain live issues in Punjab's political discourse.
Point of View
But AAP's response reveals the political complexity beneath the surface: condemnation is paired with a deliberate invocation of 2015, signalling that the sacrilege issue remains an electoral and moral liability for the Akali Dal. Two attacks on a former Deputy CM at Sikh shrines within a year point to a deeper crisis of legitimacy that no security upgrade alone can resolve. The Akali Dal's path back to political relevance in Punjab runs directly through accountability on 2015 — and its opponents know it.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and how was Sukhbir Singh Badal attacked?
Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a kirpan by a Nihang Sikh at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra, on 13 August, while he was visiting the shrine with his family. He is reported to be out of danger and is being treated at a private hospital in Nanded.
What did AAP Punjab say about the attack on Badal?
AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu condemned the attack in strong terms, stating there is no place for violence at a religious institution. He simultaneously called on the Akali Dal to acknowledge Sikh community grievances stemming from the 2015 sacrilege incidents that occurred during the party's tenure in power.
What are the 2015 sacrilege incidents that AAP referenced?
In 2015, multiple instances of desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib were reported across Punjab while the Akali Dal was in government. Peaceful protests that followed were met with water cannons and firing, resulting in the deaths of two Sikhs — an episode that remains a source of deep resentment within the community.
Has Sukhbir Badal been attacked before?
Yes. On 4 December 2024, Badal was attacked while performing Sewadar duties at the gate of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The Nanded incident marks the second such attack on him at a Sikh religious site within a year.
What is the political significance of this incident?
The attack highlights the unresolved anger within sections of the Sikh community toward the Akali Dal over the 2015 sacrilege cases. AAP's dual response — condemning violence while invoking 2015 — reflects the issue's continued potency as a political fault line in Punjab ahead of future electoral contests.
