Union Minister Faces Backlash for Comments on Sukhbir Badal's Attacker

Ravneet Singh Bittu calls for honoring Narain Singh Chaura, drawing criticism from Akali Dal and raising political tensions in Punjab.

Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu referred to Narain Singh Chaura, the man who attempted to shoot Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, as a 'gem of the community' and urged the Akali Dal to honor him.
Bittu justified Chaura's actions as stemming from religious emotion, linking it to Badal's admission of sacrilege during his tenure as Punjab's deputy chief minister.
Akali Dal leaders, including Bikram Singh Majithia, condemned Bittu's remarks, accusing him and the BJP of validating the attack and raising concerns about Chaura's alleged ties to extremist groups.
The attack on Badal occurred at the Golden Temple while he was performing religious penance ordered by the Akal Takht for past misconduct; the gunfire missed, and Chaura was subdued by plainclothes police.
The Shiromani Akali Dal plans to meet the Punjab Governor to present evidence alleging that the AAP government facilitated the attack, further intensifying political disputes in the state.