Assassination Bid On Sukhbir Singh Badal During His Penance At Golden Temple, Suspect Arrested
A man opened fire at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
While he was serving his punishment at Amritsar’s Golden Temple on Wednesday morning. Police have arrested the suspect and are questioning him. The suspect has been identified as Narayan Singh Chaura, a former member of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), one of the oldest Khalistani separatist groups.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Of Police (ADCP) Harpal Singh said the security arrangements were proper, but the shooter tried to do some mischief and could not succeed. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said personnel Rishpal Singh, Jasbir and Parminder displayed alertness and foiled the attempt.
He said Narayan Singh Chaura (attacker), who has a criminal record, has been arrested and a case has been registered. Amritsar MP and Congress leader Gurjeet Singh Aujla called the incident unfortunate. He said there’s no frisking at Golden temple. He said he did not want to blame CM Mann and added that there was no Khalistani sentiment in Punjab.
Badal began serving his penance on Tuesday morning, a day after he was directed to perform as a ‘sewadar’, and wash dishes and clean shoes at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Badal was seen wearing a plaque around his neck as he sat in a wheelchair because of a fractured leg.
Sri Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of Sikhs, handed the corrective measures to Badal and other leaders for supporting Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in the 2015 sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.
CM Mann Lauds Efforts Of Cops
Punjab Chief Minister Bagwant Mann condemned the attack and lauded the timely action of Punjab Police, who prevented a “major incident” from happening.
“It is the result of the promptness of the Punjab Police that the conspiracy to defame Punjab and Punjabis has failed. The police achieved great success by arresting the assailant on the spot with their promptness,” he said and added, “I have issued strict instructions to the police to immediately investigate the incident and submit a report.”
SAD Leader Seeks CM’s Resignation
SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema demanded the resignation of Punjab CM and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann over the incident and the poor law and order situation in the state. He said, “’Sevaks’ were offering ‘seva’ here. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was sitting by the Guru Ram Das Dwar as ‘Chowkidar’. A bullet was fired in his direction. I thank Guru Nanak he saved his ‘sevak’.
“This is a huge incident, what era is Punjab being pushed into? I would like to ask the CM of Punjab, where do you want to take Punjab? The attacker was caught on the spot. I also thank the security personnel here. Had they not acted promptly. There should be a high-level judicial inquiry into the incident. We will continue with our ‘seva’,” he added.
Akal Takht Issues Penalty
The sentence was issued after Badal offered an unconditional apology to the Akal Takht, acknowledging his mistakes. The Sikh leaders had asked him to respond with either ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Sukhbir Badal responded ‘yes’ to all the questions.
He admitted to crimes including the gun firing incident, sacrilege and backing the Dera head. Sukhbir Badal was granted some leniency due to a leg injury. In addition, the title of ‘Fakhr-e-Qaum’ awarded to his father Prakash Singh Badal when he was Chief Minister was revoked after Baba from Sirsa was forgiven.
The sentence was pronounced by Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, also directed the working committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to accept the resignation of Sukhbir Badal as party chief, besides forming a committee to hold elections for the post of SAD president and office-bearers within six months.
The five Singh Sahibans (Sikh clergy) also pronounced religious punishment for other Sikh leaders who served as ministers in the Akali Cabinet during 2007 to 2017. Giani Raghbir Singh said Sukhbir Badal, who was on a wheelchair because of a fractured leg, and rebel leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa have been asked to sit outside the Golden Temple wearing the dress of ‘sewadar’ for one hour each for two days.
They will also perform the service of ‘sewadar’ at Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, Darbar Sahib at Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib for two days each. Both Sukhbir Badal and Sukhdev Dhindsa were asked to clean utensils and shoes of devotees at the Golden Temple for one hour, besides listening to ‘kirtan’.
The punishment came nearly three months after Sukhbir Badal was declared ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht.
The Jathedar also directed Akali leaders Sucha Singh Langah, Hira Singh Gabria, Balwinder Singh Bhundar, Daljit Singh Cheema and Gulzar Singh Ranike to clean washrooms for one hour at the Golden Temple, and then clean utensils at the community kitchen after taking bath.
They will also listen to ‘kirtan’ for one hour, the Jathedar said.
Other Akali leaders, including Bibi Jagir Kaur, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Bikram Singh Majithia, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Charanjit Singh Atwal, and Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, were also told to clean washrooms at the Golden Temple for one hour.