Sukhbir Singh Badal is a prominent Indian politician and the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), a major Sikh political party in Punjab.
Sukhbir Singh Badal served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab from 2007 to 2017, playing a significant role in state politics during that period
Badal comes from a politically influential family; he is the son of Parkash Singh Badal, a former Chief Minister of Punjab.
On December 4, 2024, he was attacked at the Golden Temple in Amritsar when a man opened fire at him
At the time of the attack, Badal was serving as a guard outside the temple as part of a religious punishment assigned by the Akal Takht for previous decisions perceived to have harmed Sikh interests
Sukhbir Singh Badal leadership has been marked by controversy, especially regarding decisions that have been criticized by various Sikh groups.
The shooter was identified as Narain Singh Chaura, a member of the Dal Khalsa group
Badal was serving as a 'sewadar' (volunteer) at the temple entrance as part of a religious punishment pronounced by Sikh clergy for past political actions. He was in a wheelchair due to a leg injury
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and police are conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding it.