Nanded, Maharashtra — Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal resumed political activity on Wednesday after surviving a life-threatening assault in Nanded on August 13, addressing a large party rally in his native Muktsar where he mounted a broadside against jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and the breakaway Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De).
Return to politics after the Nanded attack
Badal's appearance at the Punjab Bachao Rally was his first public programme following the incident in Nanded, which drew national attention and prompted security and political questions in Maharashtra and Punjab. He reached Muktsar after returning to the state and offering obeisance at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo, the party said, before launching his attack on rival political forces.
At the Muktsar gathering, Badal accused competing groups of working for two years to marginalise the SAD and the Badal family’s political role in Punjab. He framed the SAD as the only party capable of restoring stability and protecting Sikh institutions, and invoked the legacy of his father, former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, for having helped end the militancy era and restore calm in the state.
- Date of the Nanded attack: 13 August (as reported).
- Badal’s return and temple visit: Visited Takht Sri Damdama Sahib before resuming political work.
- First public rally after attack: 'Punjab Bachao Rally' at Muktsar.
He described the breakaway group as a "virus" and questioned its claim to represent Sikh interests, according to reporting of the rally.
Targets and omissions in the speech
Badal launched an extended attack on Amritpal Singh and the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), calling the outfit a "virus" and criticising the use of the Guru Granth Sahib during protests at a police station. He also criticised Amritpal’s family background and alleged political links to the Congress in recent years, remarks reported from the rally.
Notably, despite widespread speculation in political circles about a possible re-alliance between the SAD and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Badal did not mention the BJP during his address. The omission will be watched closely by state and national political observers as parties consider alliances ahead of future elections.
Security and local implications
The assault in Nanded that Badal survived has had immediate local resonance. While the rally took place in Punjab, the fact that the attack occurred in Nanded has brought renewed scrutiny to security arrangements for political figures visiting the city. Local residents and political workers in Marathwada, including Nanded, have followed the developments closely, concerned about both the motive behind the assault and its implications for communal and political stability.
Badal also referenced two separate attempts on his life, saying both incidents took place at "Guru Ghars" and criticised those behind them for lacking respect for religious propriety, as reported from the speech. He sought to present the SAD as a guardian of communal harmony, farmer interests and labour rights while accusing rivals of conspiring to weaken the party and seize control of gurdwara funds.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Assault location | Nanded, Maharashtra (reported on 13 August) |
| Rally | Punjab Bachao Rally, Muktsar |
| Religious visit | Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo |
Reporting from The Tribune provided the account of the Muktsar speech and the references to the Nanded incident. The narrative has stirred debate in both Punjab and Maharashtra over political violence, security protocols for visiting leaders and the broader direction of Sikh politics.
Locally in Nanded, civic authorities and political workers have yet to release a consolidated account of the assault's circumstances; the incident remains a sensitive subject among community leaders and police sources. As the SAD returns to active campaigning with Badal back on the stump, residents in Nanded and across Maharashtra will be monitoring any follow-up investigations and statements from law enforcement about the attack.
Badal’s decision to avoid addressing the BJP at Muktsar, even as alliance discussions persist in political circles, will also be interpreted by strategists on both sides. For Nanded residents, the episode has highlighted the city’s unexpected place in a larger Punjab political drama and raised questions about the security of high-profile visitors in the region.
