Prime Minister Modi inquires about health of Sukhbir Badal after attack on SAD chief

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday enquired about the health of Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was injured in a knife attack inside a gurdwara in Maharashtra's Nanded.

The Prime Minister spoke to Badal's wife and Lok Sabha MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal over the phone and inquired about the SAD chief's health, official sources said.

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A Nihang (member of a martial order of Sikhs) attacked Badal with a kirpan (curved dagger) inside a gurdwara in Nanded.

SAD said Badal was fine and in "high spirits" after a man in a 'Nihang' attire attacked him.

The SAD chief was accompanied by his wife at the time of the incident.

On August 7, Badal had met the prime minister here, igniting speculation about the possibility of the Punjab-based party joining hands with the BJP again ahead of the Punjab assembly elections.

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SAD left the NDA six years ago over the farm laws issue.

SAD was one of the oldest constituents of the NDA with more than 20 years of association when it left the alliance in 2020 over the three agriculture laws, which were later withdrawn by the Modi government.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal was also part of the Modi government as a minister with cabinet rank. Punjab assembly election is due early next year.