“Violence has no place, especially on the soil of our sacred Takhts,” Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon said on Thursday as BJP leaders and Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj strongly condemned the attack on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal at a gurdwara in Maharashtra's Nanded.

Badal, a former Punjab deputy chief minister, was attacked with a kirpan while visiting Gurdwara Mata Sahib Devan Ji Mugat in Nanded around 1:45 pm, police said. He suffered an injury to his hand and was taken to a hospital, where his condition was reported to be stable. A local official said he received two to three stitches. The alleged attacker, a Nihang, was detained.

Also Read: Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal attacked in Maharashtra’s Nanded, guard injured

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a probe into the incident and called Badal to enquire about his health.

Dhillon said he was deeply concerned over the attack and prayed for Badal's speedy recovery.

Former Union minister and senior BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu termed the incident a “cowardly attempt” on Badal's life and said it was a direct threat to Punjab's peace and security.

“Violence and intimidation have no place in our holy shrines. The perpetrators must be exposed and punished, and those responsible for the security lapse must be held accountable. Sikhism stands for seva, courage and peace, not violence,” Bittu said in a post on X.

BJP national spokesperson R P Singh appealed to Fadnavis to ensure that the incident was thoroughly and impartially investigated.

“Punjab and the Punjabi community have already suffered immensely during the dark and painful years of violence and militancy. Generations of Punjabis have borne the deep scars left by that period. We cannot, under any circumstances, allow those dark days to return,” Singh said.

He appealed for peace and restraint, saying democratic institutions and the rule of law must be respected despite political disagreements, criticism and differences of opinion.

“At a time when Punjab and the entire country are moving forward with aspirations of peace, development and progress, incidents like this must be dealt with firmly so that a clear message goes out that violence has no place in public life,” Singh said.

Singh also said the “hard-earned peace of Punjab and the dignity of our democratic system” must be protected.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj also condemned the attack, particularly because it took place inside a gurdwara complex.

Sikh devotees from across the country and the world visit gurdwaras to pay obeisance and pray for the welfare of all, Gargajj said.

“Unfortunately, such an incident has taken place at such a sacred place. A person who commits such an act cannot be a Sikh,” he said.

In a statement, Gargajj said Badal and his family had visited Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib in Nanded to pay obeisance and had been accorded due honour and respect by the Singh Sahibs and management of Takht Sri Hazur Sahib earlier in the day.

He described the attack by a “mischievous person” inside the gurdwara complex as highly condemnable, saying it undermined the dignity and sanctity of gurdwaras and caused serious damage to the image of the Sikh community.

“A true Sikh of the Guru could never attack any Sikh who had come to a gurdwara to pay obeisance,” Gargajj said.

SAD national vice-president Sanjeev Talwar also condemned the attack and questioned how Badal could be targeted despite having Z+ security cover.

Calling it an “attack on Punjab's unity and integrity”, Talwar said the incident should not be viewed merely as an attack on the SAD chief.

“Sukhbir Singh Badal is a promoter of Hindu-Sikh unity; he speaks of Punjab and Punjabiyat. This is not a direct attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal but an attack on the unity and integrity of Punjab,” he said.

Talwar also said a possible injury to one of Badal's bodyguards had been reported, although this was not immediately confirmed by police.

The Nanded attack comes after a shooting attempt on Badal at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in December 2024, when he was performing 'seva'. The attacker, Narain Singh Chaura, was overpowered and arrested.

The latest incident has prompted political and religious leaders to call for a thorough probe, accountability over security arrangements and restraint, while stressing that violence has no place in public life or at Sikh religious sites.

(With inputs from Agencies)