Badal performs ‘sewa’ amid strict vigil at Kesgarh Sahib
A day after surviving an attempt on his life at the Golden Temple complex, former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal along with other Akali leaders underwent “tankhah” (religious punishment) amidst heightened police security at Takht Kesgarh Sahib on Thursday.
Akali core committee meeting today
The SAD core committee will meet in Chandigarh on Friday to discuss the assassination bid on Sukhbir Badal. Spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said the sole agenda was to discuss all aspects of the incident. There was no word on the deadline set by the Akal Takht to take a call on the resignations of Badal and other leaders.
A pro-Khalistan activist, Narain Singh Chaura, had tried to assassinate Badal while he performed guard duty as part of his religious punishment at the Golden Temple complex on Wednesday.
In the wake of the incident, the Punjab Police have increased the security cover of Badal, already a “Z+” protectee, and other Akali leaders declared “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct). Apart from policemen in mufti, a multi-layer security cordon has been thrown around the leaders. This is in addition to enhanced electronic surveillance.
Seated in a wheelchair (due to a hairline fracture in the foot), Badal today performed “sewa” flanked by security men in blazers and jackets — he was guarded by policemen in kurta-pyjamas yesterday. Badal and other leaders also washed utensils and attended “kirtan darbar” for an hour. Badal’s wife and Bathinda Member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal, son and two daughters joined him at the gurdwara.
They were seen seated among the sangat in front of Badal.
Among other leaders who performed religious service were Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Suchha Singh Langah, Hira Singh Gabria and Darbara Singh Guru.
Around 400 policemen in civvies along with 100 members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee task force maintained vigil around the Akali leaders.
The Akal Takht had sentenced Badal and nearly 50 other Akali leaders to perform religious service for two days each at the three Takhts (temporal seats) in Punjab, besides two gudwaras at Sri Muktsar Sahib and Fatehgarh Sahib.
Addressing mediapersons later, Akali leaders, including Dr Cheema, Arshdeep Kaler and NK Sharma, termed the attack a deep-rooted conspiracy. Former minister Bikram Singh Majithia has already questioned certain police officers’ “close proximity” to the assailant. He had shown photos of senior police officials meeting and shaking hands with Chaura prior to the incident.
