Sukhbir Singh Badal, the leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and a former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, was almost shot at the Golden Temple gate in Amritsar on Tuesday morning. The incident happened around 9 am while he was working as a'sewadar’ (volunteer) as part of a religious punishment given by the Akal Takht.

The shooter, named Narain Singh from Gurdaspur, walked slowly towards the gate and then quickly pulled out a gun. A person nearby saw him in time, grabbed his hand, and stopped the shooting. The gun went off, but the bullet missed everyone and hit the wall. Narain Singh was caught, arrested, and taken by the police.

Pictures from the scene show Mr. Badal wearing a blue'sewadar’ uniform, sitting in a wheelchair with his leg in a cast. He has been doing tasks like washing dishes and cleaning shoes as part of a punishment given to him for the “mistakes” made by the Akali Dal during its time in power from 2007 to 2017.

Who is the shooter?

Police have revealed that Narain Singh has a criminal history and links to the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa. He is believed to be involved in the 2004 Burail jailbreak, where four inmates, including high-profile convicts, escaped through a tunnel. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar confirmed that Narain Singh is being investigated for his motive behind the attack.

The commissioner praised police officers Rishpal Singh, Jasbir, and Parminder Singh for their quick response, saying, “We have registered a case and are probing all angles. I appeal to people to maintain peace.” He also highlighted the challenges of deploying uniformed officers at the Golden Temple due to religious sensibilities, making frisking difficult.

What led to Sukhbir Badal’s penance?

Earlier this year, the Akal Takht declared Mr. Badal guilty of religious misconduct and called him a ‘tankhaiya.’ This was because, in 2007, the SAD government pardoned Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the leader of Dera Sacha Sauda, in a blasphemy case. To make up for this, Mr. Badal was asked to work as a volunteer at the Golden Temple and other gurdwaras. For the last two days, he has been sitting at the temple gate with a spear in his hand, humbly doing his duties.

Political leaders react to the attack

The attack has drawn widespread reactions from political leaders across parties. Naresh Gujral, a former SAD MP, criticised the state government, saying, “This attack shows criminals are roaming freely in Punjab. We are thankful that Sukhbir Badal was not hurt. The law and order situation in Punjab is deplorable, and the government has failed on this front.”

BJP leader Vijay Sampla called the attack unfortunate and said, “An attack on the Golden Temple’s sewadar amounts to an attack on the Golden Temple.”

Congress MP Manish Tewari expressed relief that Mr. Badal was unharmed. “This is very sad. It is God’s grace that he is unhurt. This should be probed, and the guilty must be punished,” he said.

Aman Arora from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) defended the state government, saying, “Punjab police were alert and prepared. Everything is under control.” Responding to criticism from opposition leaders, he added, “I don’t want to politicise it, but if they want, I would ask the Akalis what they did for 10 years because of which Sukhbir Badal has to perform these duties.”

What happens next?

The police are continuing their investigation into the incident, focusing on Narain Singh’s background and his links to terrorist groups. Security around the Golden Temple has been tightened to prevent such incidents in the future.

As the news unfolds, it has sparked discussions about law and order in Punjab and the security of high-profile individuals in religious spaces. Meanwhile, the Akali Dal and other opposition leaders have intensified their criticism of the state government, demanding stricter measures to ensure public safety.

The incident also serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement in balancing security and religious sensitivities at sacred sites.