Chandigarh, Aug 13 (IANS) Former Punjab Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday strongly condemned the attack on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal in Maharashtra’s Nanded, saying violence has no place in a civilised society and warning that Punjab must not return to an era of violence and hatred.
In a post on social media platform X, Captain Amarinder Singh said: “I strongly condemn the attack on @officeofssbadal today. Violence has no place in a civilised society, and such acts are especially condemnable when they take place at a sacred religious site. I am relieved that Sukhbir is safe. I urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. Punjab must never be allowed to return to an era of violence and hatred.”
The remarks came after Sukhbir Singh Badal suffered a cut on his hand when a man allegedly attacked him in Nanded on Thursday.
Badal was subsequently admitted to a private hospital in the city, with doctors saying that he was out of danger.
According to the Nanded Collector Rahul Kardile, the wound on Badal’s hand was around 4–5 cm long.
Badal had reached Nanded on Wednesday night and visited a gurdwara with his family on Thursday.
The attack took place shortly after his visit to the Mata Sahib Gurdwara.
Captain Amarinder Singh’s condemnation comes amid calls for a thorough investigation into the incident, particularly as it occurred at a sacred religious site.
He urged the authorities to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and stressed that Punjab must not be allowed to slip back into a period marked by violence and hatred.
Sukhbir Singh Badal sustained a minor hand injury after being targeted in an assault with a sharp object (dagger/kirpan) near Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji in Nanded.
Maharashtra Police detained/arrested the assailant—identified as a Nihang named Jaspal Singh—and state authorities ordered an immediate inquiry.
This event follows an earlier assassination attempt on Badal at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in December 2024 while he was performing religious penance.
Senior party leaders from the SAD have termed the Nanded incident a calculated conspiracy and a massive security failure, demanding high-level or court-monitored probes, including calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry.
Other political leaders, cutting across party lines, have condemned the violence at a sacred religious site, stressing that political differences do not justify physical attacks and calling on law enforcement to uncover any forces attempting to destabilise communal harmony.
–IANS
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