NEW DELHI: Former Delhi chief minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday condemned the assassination attempt on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal, calling it a “big conspiracy” to defame Punjab and Punjabis. He praised the Punjab Police for their vigilance in preventing a major incident and criticised the BJP government for lawlessness in Delhi and other BJP-ruled states.
Kejriwal addressing the Delhi assembly said, “Today an incident happened in Punjab, someone tried to shoot at former Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal but due to the alertness of Punjab Police, a big accident was averted. Sukhbir Badal is safe. I condemn this incident. But one thing is clear that a big conspiracy is being hatched to ruin and defame Punjab and Punjabis and behind this many big forces are involved.”
He contrasted the Punjab Police’s vigilance with the situation in BJP-ruled Delhi, saying, “Murders are taking place openly in Delhi, shootouts are taking place openly, the entire capital is in the control of gangsters, drugs are being sold everywhere, women are being raped, the entire BJP becomes silent, and their top leaders say that crime is not an issue, law and order is not an issue in Delhi.”
Read also: Sukhbir Singh assassination bid: How alert ‘sewadar’ saved life of SAD leader at Golden Temple
The attack occurred at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, where Badal was performing ‘sewadar’ duties as part of atonement for “mistakes” during SAD’s tenure from 2007 to 2017. The assailant, identified as Narain Singh Chaura, fired a shot that missed Badal after being deflected by a bystander. Chaura, reportedly a former militant with a criminal history, was overpowered on the spot and arrested.
BJP criticises AAP on Punjab’s law and order
BJP National Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa condemned the attack, terming it a “grave breach of security and sanctity” of Sri Harmandir Sahib. He held the AAP government responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab.
Sirsa stated on social media, “Shocking and condemnable! An attack on S. Sukhbir Singh Badal in the sacred premises of Sri Harmandir Sahib is not just a security lapse but a grave breach of the sanctity of our religious institutions. AAP Govt has failed to ensure the safety of citizens and uphold the dignity of holy places.”
He further criticised AAP leaders, saying, “Ever since Aam Aadmi Party has come to Punjab, there is no law and order. Gangsters are ruling from jail… Punjab is being run from jail. Today, the law and order situation has deteriorated, and security has deteriorated in Punjab to such an extent that even a single person is not safe.”
The assassination attempt has sparked a fresh political controversy, with both AAP and BJP trading barbs over governance and law enforcement in Punjab and Delhi. Authorities are investigating the motive behind the attack and Chaura’s links to militant activities.
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Meanwhile, over attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia condemned the law and order situation in Punjab and said, “The situation is out of control. If the police had caught the man (accused shooter Narain Singh Chaura) two days ago, then I would have said that the situation was under control…A high court-monitored probe is required in this incident…If the Police knew that this man was roaming there, then were the Police waiting for him to shoot?…”
“Narain Singh Chaura, a man against whom at least 30 cases are registered and was roaming there for last 3 days. AAP government says that Police are deployed there. Was the Police sleeping? I have shared videos of the man (accused shooter) conducted recee both today and yesterday. He came close to Sukhbir ji many times. If no one is safe in Golden Temple, then you can imagine what is the law & order situation in Punjab. This is the Punjab where Lawrence Bishnoi was interviewed in jail. This govt also gave protection to those guilty of Sidhu Moosewala killing…Narain Singh Chaura is son of Channan Singh Chaura. Channan Singh’s second son is Narender Singh Bajwa who is the right-hand man of Sukhi Randhawa…Whenever there is a Congress govt Narain Chaura comes out…I have shared what connection this family has with Congress,” Majithia added.
Additionally former Punjab chief minister also criticised the Punjab goverment and said, “This is condemnable, this incident should not have happened… This is the failure of the current Punjab government, their immaturity is visible. It has become clear that they are not able to run the administration properly. Such incidents keep happening in Punjab often, but because it happened with Sukhbir Singh Badal, now people are getting to know about it. People are being extorted in cities and villages, money is being collected by threatening them. There is no law and order in the state. The administrative qualities that a leader should have are not there in our Chief Minister. Another direct reason for this attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal is that people have anger and resentment against him which has now come to the fore.”