Politicians and Sacred Spaces: A Pattern of Violence in India's Holy Places The recent attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), near a gurdwara in Maharashtra's Nanded is the latest in a disturbing trend of violence against politicians at India's sacred sites.
The incident, which saw Badal suffer hand injuries and his security personnel hurt, raises questions about the safety of those who serve their constituents while performing religious duties.
This is not an isolated incident. In December 2024, Badal narrowly escaped an assassination attempt outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar, one of the holiest sites in Sikhism.