After a lapse of eight years since the incidents of sacrilege related to the Guru Granth Sahib led to the Akali Dal government's downfall in Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal, the president of the party, publicly expressed regret during an event at Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Gurbaksh Singh in Amritsar, coinciding with the 103rd foundation day of the Akali Dal.
In a written apology and a reiterated video message posted on X, Sukhbir Badal acknowledged the party's failure to apprehend the culprits during its tenure. He submitted himself to the Guru's will at the Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest religio-temporal seat of the Sikh community, seeking forgiveness from the Khalsa Panth for the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji during the Akali government's rule. He expressed sorrow over the inability to understand and thwart the conspiracies of certain Panthic individuals and organizations, resulting in the transfer of the probe to the CBI.
Sukhbir Badal stated, "These incidents remain the most painful events in my life and the life of S Parkash Singh Ji Badal."
However, the opposition criticized Badal's apology, asserting that the people of Punjab would not accept it. Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa questioned Badal's sincerity and urged him to disclose details about the firing on peacefully protesting Sikhs in Behbal Kalan village. AAP spokesperson Malvinder Kang described the apology as a sin, emphasizing the need to expose the political motives behind it.
In response to the apology, Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) president Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa welcomed the gesture but indicated that the party would collectively assess Sukhbir Singh Badal's complete statement before making a decision.
