Harsimrat Kaur thanks PM Modi, Amit Shah for their concern, support after attack on Sukhbir Badal

New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS/WISHAVWARTA) Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal’s wife, on Friday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for enquiring about Badal’s health and said that their concern, support and wishes during this difficult time mean a lot.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal took to social media, ‘X’, saying, “Truly grateful, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for your personal call to enquire about Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal ji’s health and for your good wishes for his speedy recovery following the dastardly attack on him inside a Gurudwara Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra.”

“Your concern, support and wishes during this difficult time mean a lot to all of us in the family, our party and to the people of Punjab. I am deeply touched by your kind gesture. I am also grateful to you for taking immediate cognisance of the incident and directing central investigating agencies to coordinate with Maharashtra police in the probe,” she said.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal also thanked Amit Shah and said, “I sincerely thank Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji for reaching out to me to enquire about Sukhbir Singh Badal ji’s health following the attack on him inside a Guru Ghar in Maharashtra. I am grateful for your personal concern and for your words of reassurance during this difficult time. Thank you for your commitment to ensuring an effective probe into this painful incident which is a grave violation of the fundamental tenets of the great Sikh religion.”

Sukhbir Singh Badal was injured after he was attacked by an assailant in Nihang attire at the Mata Sahib Kaur Gurdwara in Maharashtra’s Nanded on Thursday.

The incident took place when Badal visited the Mata Sahib Gurdwara in the Hazur Sahib area on the outskirts of the city.

The Akali Dal chief was attacked with a kirpan, and the assailant was taken into custody by the police.

The attacker, identified by local authorities as 62-year-old Jaspal Singh, was detained on the spot. Maharashtra Police launched an investigation to establish the primary motive behind the assault.

According to sources, the attacker allegedly attempted to stab Badal in the stomach. However, security personnel intervened in time and prevented the attacker from causing more serious injuries. Inspector Santosh Kendre, who was deployed on special security duty, was also injured during the attack.

A video recorded after the incident showed Badal walking with a saffron cloth wrapped around his right hand.

He sustained minor injuries to his hand and shoulder and was taken to the Yashosai Hospital for medical treatment.

Earlier on Thursday, Badal visited Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded along with his family. His wife and Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal was present when the attack occurred.

This is not the first attack on the Akali Dal leader. On December 4, 2024, he survived an assassination attempt outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar. He escaped unharmed, while the gunman was quickly overpowered and arrested.

At the time, Badal was performing ‘sewadar’ duties at the Golden Temple after the Akal Takht had pronounced ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) on him and several other Akali Dal leaders for alleged mistakes committed during the party’s rule in Punjab between 2007 and 2017.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a full inquiry into the matter.

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