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Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has stirred controversy with his comments about Narain Singh Chaura, the man who attempted to shoot former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. 

Bittu, while criticising the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), suggested that the party should show respect to Chaura, especially since he had admitted to committing the act of sacrilege that led to Badal’s penance.

Bittu, who serves as the Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, made these remarks in a sharp jibe at the Akali Dal leadership. He suggested that Bikram Singh Majithia, the party's general secretary, should embrace Narain Singh Chaura in the same way he had embraced the killers of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. 

Bittu’s remarks appeared aimed at highlighting what he sees as hypocrisy within the Akali Dal, accusing them of sympathising with terrorists. He added, "Terrorists are not loyal to anyone."

Call to honour Narain Singh Chaura

In his comments, Bittu went further to propose that the Akali Dal should honour Chaura for his actions. He appealed to the Jathedar, the head of the Akal Takht, to place Chaura’s picture in the museum next to the Akal Takht Sahib, as a sign of respect.

 

Bittu claimed that Chaura shot at Sukhbir Badal in the "spirit of the Guru" after Badal himself had admitted to sacrilege.

According to Bittu, since Chaura’s attack was motivated by emotional devotion, no legal case should be filed against him. He even suggested that if a case is pursued, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) should cover all expenses and Narain Singh should be acquitted.

Bittu's remarks about the shooting are rooted in his interpretation of the events surrounding the attack. On December 7, Sukhbir Singh Badal had begun his penance for religious misconduct as ordered by the Akal Takht. 

This penance followed a ruling that Badal, under the Akali Dal’s previous leadership in Punjab, had been guilty of sacrilege, which led to him being declared a 'tankhaiya,' or one guilty of religious misconduct. 

As part of his penance, Badal had to serve food, clean dishes, and toilets in gurdwaras, including the Golden Temple. Badal, dressed in blue, started his first day of contrition by washing vessels.

However, on the second day of his penance, Narain Singh Chaura, a former Khalistani terrorist, attempted to assassinate Badal by firing at him from close range. 

The shot missed, hitting a wall instead, and Chaura was quickly subdued by plainclothes policemen at the scene. Bittu, in his defense of Chaura, described him as a "gem of the nation."

 

Majithia Responds to Bittu’s Remarks

 

Bikram Singh Majithia, a senior leader of the Akali Dal, quickly responded to Bittu’s comments, accusing him and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of justifying the attack on Sukhbir Badal. Majithia criticised Bittu for making a statement that seemed to validate the shooting while condemning a similar attack outside parliament just days earlier. 

#WATCH | Punjab: On Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu's statement on the attack on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia says, "... On December 4, he condemned the attack outside the Parliament and now he has validated the attack. BJP… pic.twitter.com/WU4O37yOPQ

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2024

He questioned why Bittu, a BJP minister, was supporting an attack inside a gurdwara, an act that many would see as deeply sacrilegious.

Majithia also brought up serious concerns about Chaura's connections, suggesting that he might have links to the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) of Pakistan.

 

He pointed out that from Chaura's residence, authorities had recovered explosives, including RDX and an AK-47 rifle, further fueling suspicions about his affiliations.

 

Also Read: Badal continues penance; performs 'sewa' at Fatehgarh Sahib

The attempted assassination of Sukhbir Singh Badal comes in the wake of his penance for sacrilege. The incident sheds light on ongoing tensions within the Sikh community, particularly regarding actions taken by political leaders in Punjab.

Sukhbir Badal’s penance was seen by some as a necessary step for atoning for the Akali Dal’s handling of religious issues during their tenure in power. 

However, it has also made him a target for others who feel that the issue of sacrilege has not been sufficiently addressed by political figures in Punjab.

The shooting incident has sparked a wider debate about the role of radical elements within Punjab, the tensions surrounding the Sikh diaspora, and the complex legacy of the Khalistani movement. 

Despite the attempt on his life, Badal’s supporters continue to view him as a prominent figure in Punjab politics, while his critics see him as a symbol of the state's controversial handling of religious issues.

Ravneet Singh Bittu’s controversial comments about Narain Singh Chaura and his call for the Akali Dal to honour the shooter have added fuel to an already heated political atmosphere in Punjab. 

While Bittu’s remarks were aimed at critiquing the Akali Dal’s leadership, they also highlight deeper divisions within the Sikh community regarding religious misdeeds, political accountability, and the history of Khalistani activism. 

As the investigation into the shooting continues, it remains to be seen how these tensions will evolve and whether they will influence Punjab’s political landscape in the months to come.

 

Also Read: SAD to provide evidence to Guv on Sukhbir Badal attack