Sukhbir Singh Badal Shot At During Penance at Golden Temple: 5 BIG DEVELOPMENTS
A shocking incident unfolded this morning at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal was fired upon while performing his penance. The shooter, an elderly man, targeted Badal at the entrance of the sacred shrine. However, the gunman was quickly overpowered by the crowd, and no injuries to Badal have been reported.
The incident occurred as Badal was fulfilling the religious punishment (tankhah) handed down by the Akal Takht for his alleged mistakes during the SAD's tenure in Punjab from 2007 to 2017. This includes controversial decisions such as pardoning Gurmeet Ram Rahim in the sacrilege cases. Badal, who is wheelchair-bound, was serving as a 'sewadar' at the Golden Temple, washing dishes and cleaning shoes. The FIR on the attack is being investigated, and the matter will likely fuel further discussions on political and religious accountability.
A man fired at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal this morning while he was performing his penance at the Golden Temple, Amritsar. The shooter was quickly overpowered by the people present at the scene.
Sukhbir Singh Badal, a wheelchair-bound 62-year-old former Deputy CM of Punjab, was unhurt in the attack. The shooter, an elderly man, was apprehended immediately by the devotees present. Badal was surrounded by sevadars, who provided him with immediate security cover.
The attack occurred while Badal was fulfilling his 'tankhah' (religious punishment) assigned by the Akal Takht for his alleged mistakes during the SAD's tenure in Punjab from 2007 to 2017. Badal is performing 'sewadar' duties, including washing dishes and cleaning shoes at the Golden Temple.
As part of his penance, Badal and other senior leaders of Akali Dal will clean the bathrooms at the Golden Temple on December 3. The Akal Takht also directed the SAD to accept Badal's resignation as party chief and reorganize within six months.
Badal was declared "tankhaiya" (one undergoing religious punishment) in August after being held accountable for decisions during his party's rule, including the controversial pardon to Gurmeet Ram Rahim in the sacrilege case. The Akal Takht’s decision comes after Badal admitted to his mistakes and apologized unconditionally.