Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked near Mata Sahib Gurdwara at the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib complex in Maharashtra’s Nanded on Thursday (August 13). According to police and party sources, an assailant approached Badal with a sharp-edged weapon at around 1.45 pm as he was visiting the gurdwara with his wife, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
Badal sustained an injury to his right hand and was taken to a private hospital, while a security personnel deployed with him was also injured while intervening. One person has been detained in connection with the attack. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an inquiry into the motive and sought a report from the Nanded Superintendent of Police. The Chief Minister’s Office said Badal’s condition is stable.
What Happened At Nanded Gurdwara?
The attack reportedly took place when Badal was on his way to the Mata Sahib Gurdwara. Party sources said the assailant allegedly tried to stab him with a sharp-edged weapon, but security personnel intervened quickly and overpowered the attacker, preventing further harm. Badal suffered an injury to his hand and was subsequently taken to a private hospital for treatment. A video recorded after the incident showed him walking with his right hand wrapped in a cloth. His wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, was accompanying him at the time.
Senior SAD leader Virsa Singh Valtoha condemned the attack and called for a thorough investigation, asking, “Who are the forces behind such attack?” Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis spoke to Badal over the phone to enquire about his health and directed authorities to investigate the motive behind the incident. The Chief Minister’s Office said Badal’s condition was stable. BJP spokesperson RP Singh also condemned the attack, calling it “completely unacceptable” and stressing that violence has no place in a democratic society.
He said Punjab and the Punjabi community had already suffered deeply during years of violence and militancy, and urged that peace, brotherhood, constitutional values and the rule of law prevail.
Second Attack On Badal In Two Years
The Nanded incident comes less than two years after Badal survived an assassination attempt at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in December 2024. At the time, Badal was carrying out a religious punishment, or tankhah, imposed by the Akal Takht over alleged religious misconduct linked to the SAD government’s tenure in Punjab between 2007 and 2017. Narain Singh Chaura had allegedly approached Badal and opened fire at him from close range. A security officer intervened, pushing the attacker’s hand upwards and causing the bullet to miss Badal. A sewadar also helped overpower the attacker.
The latest incident has therefore raised fresh questions about the security of political leaders, particularly at religious sites where large numbers of devotees and visitors may be present. Authorities are now expected to establish how the attacker managed to approach Badal, identify the circumstances and motive behind the incident, and determine whether there were any security lapses. While one person has been detained, further details about the accused and the investigation are awaited.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
An attack on a political leader, regardless of their party, ideology or past record, cannot be justified. Places of worship should remain spaces of faith, reflection and community, not settings where political disagreements or personal grievances spill into violence. At the same time, the incident must not become an excuse for speculation, communal narratives or attempts to inflame existing divisions before investigators establish the facts. A transparent probe is essential, both to establish accountability and to reassure people that public figures and ordinary citizens can safely access places of worship.
India’s democratic culture depends on the principle that disagreements are settled through dialogue, elections and the rule of law, not through intimidation or physical violence. As authorities investigate what happened in Nanded, how can society ensure that political differences remain firmly within the boundaries of peaceful democratic debate?
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— 🦏 Payal M/પાયલ મેહતા/ पायल मेहता/ পাযেল মেহতা (@payalmehta100) August 13, 2026
Punjab's former Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal chief @officeofssbadal was attacked in Nanded.
Maharashtra Chief Minister @Dev_Fadnavis spoke to the Nanded Superintendent of Police and sought details of the incident.
The accused has been arrested…
