‘Kirpan pierced Sukhbir’s wrist, touched his chest’: Harsimrat recounts Nanded attack

On Saturday, Harsimrat Kaur Badal recounted the Nanded attack on her husband, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal. She accused the assailant of being a "Guru-dokhi" and a coward for attacking a person inside a Guru Ghar. At an annual political conference held in memory of martyr Karnail Singh Isru, Kaur appealed for support to strengthen the SAD and combat those seeking to disrupt Punjab's communal harmony.

The attacker approached the family at close quarters as they left Gurdwara Mata Saheb Deva Ji Mugat after paying respects. Kaur's son, two daughters, and a son-in-law were present when the incident occurred. The attacker drew his two-foot kirpan and aimed to strike Sukhbir's chest, but he swiftly shielded himself. The kirpan pierced the wrist, touching his chest but was restrained by security personnel.

Sukhbir sustained a deep wound, requiring over 150 stitches for treatment. Despite the severe injury, Sukhbir expressed no fear of such attacks and conveyed his message to Harsimrat. Kaur linked the assault to broader political issues in Punjab, calling for an end to "Guru-dokhis, drugs, debt, fake promises, and false advertisements" by the AAP government.

Senior SAD leader Mahesh Inder Grewal urged the party to make Badal the next CM to restore harmony. The AAP organized a state-level program at Isru, where Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema paid tribute to Karnail Singh Isru. The Congress held a separate political conference, while the BJP declined to participate in any political events at the venue.