Day after attack, Sukhbir Badal performs sewa at Takht Kesgarh Sahib

A day after he survived a bid on his life, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal on 5 December, Thursday, performed the duty of sewadar outside the Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Punjab's Rupnagar district, amid tight security.

The former deputy chief minister, a Z+ protectee, arrived at the Anandpur Sahib shrine surrounded by security personnel. Dressed in the blue sewadar's uniform, Badal sat at the entrance of the gurdwara with a spear in one hand for an hour from 9 a.m.

The wheelchair-bound SAD leader later listened to kirtan and also washed dishes in the community kitchen.

Badal (62) is undergoing religious punishment pronounced by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of Sikhs, for "mistakes" committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and its government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.

Besides the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Akal Takht has asked Badal to perform the service of sewadar at Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, Darbar Sahib in Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib for two days each.

On the second day of his penance at the Golden Temple on Wednesday, 4 December, Badal had a narrow escape as former Khalistani terrorist Narain Singh Chaura fired at him from a close range but missed as he was overpowered by plainclothes policemen.

On Thursday, police made elaborate security arrangements ahead of Badal's visit to the Takht Kesgarh Sahib.

Rupnagar senior superintendent of police Gulneet Singh Khurana said foolproof security arrangements have been made. Plainclothes policemen have been deployed, officials said. Task force members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) were also present and metal detectors were erected outside the gurdwara as part of the security measures.

SAD leaders Bikram Singh Majithia, Daljit Singh Cheema, Balwinder Singh Bhundar and Hira Singh Gabira, among others who are also doing penance were also present at the gurdwara.

Badal's wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, son Anantbir Singh Badal and daughters Harkirat Kaur Badal and Gurleen Kaur Badal also offered prayers at the gurdwara. They also cleaned dishes in the community kitchen.