The legacy that haunts Sukhbir Badal: Sacrilege, Dera row, and Panthic anger
The recent attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib gurdwara in Maharashtra’s Nanded has reignited discussions surrounding the troubled relationship between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and parts of the Panthic camp. This attack serves as a reminder of the ongoing political and Panthic contest over the SAD’s legacy, leadership, and future.
Badal has been targeted twice in the past two years; the first incident occurred in December 2024, when he was shot at while performing seva (volunteer work) at the Golden Temple. Despite escaping unharmed, the incident further strained relations between Badal and the Panthic community.
Roots of the anger can be traced back to several controversial events during the Akali-BJP government’s rule from 2007 to 2017. A major flashpoint was the Dera Sacha Sauda controversy, where Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh faced accusations of hurting Sikh sentiments due to his attire resembling that of Guru Gobind Singh. Tensions escalated in September 2015 when the Akal Takht granted him a written apology and pardon, a decision that was later withdrawn due to community opposition.
Weeks later, the October 2015 sacrilege incident at Bargari village and subsequent police firing at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura in Faridkot district added further fuel to the fire.
These controversies significantly contributed to the Akali Dal’s political decline, resulting in their defeat in the 2017 Assembly elections and a steady erosion of their political footprint. Currently, the party holds only one MLA, and numerous breakaway groups have emerged, weakening the party’s traditional Panthic base. The attack on Sukhbir Badal shortly after he prayed at the Sikh shrine run by the Nihang order underscores the deep-seated anger over sacrilege incidents, particularly the Behbal Kalan, Bargari, and 2015 police firing cases.
Despite these grievances, violence cannot be justified, and accountability through democratic processes is the only way forward.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
