Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Responds to Attack on Sukhbir Badal

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on the recent attack on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal outside the Darbar Sahib said that the incident is not a law and order issue but a matter under investigation by the police. In his remarks, Mann said that such attacks will not be tolerated in Punjab, reiterating that the state maintains a strong commitment to peace and communal harmony.

Mann further alleged that the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) had not allowed important video footage of the incident to be shown, questioning the transparency in the probe. The Chief Minister said the SGPC did not produce the video to the police initially, so he went to the High Court and secured it. The video was subsequently produced after judicial intervention.

The CM further defended Punjab's law and order situation, mentioning that the state ranks second in maintaining public safety. "Punjab is a place where people from all communities live together peacefully. An attack on any individual in the state is unacceptable, and the government will ensure that justice is served," Mann stated.

The attack on Sukhbir Badal, the former deputy CM of Punjab and senior leader of the SAD, has sparked political tensions, as the opposition is accusing the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of not doing enough to ensure the safety of political leaders. However, the CM Mann has made it clear that the police are looking into the incident thoroughly and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. There's always controversy over the role the SGPC plays in addressing matters related to security and sensitivity when interfaced with the state government-especially a month into an election year.