Punjab Government’s decision to withdraw the Z-plus security cover of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Minister Bikram Singh Majithia has sparked a fierce political storm, with former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led State Government of a “dangerous and deadly conspiracy” against his party’s leadership.
Majithia, who was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in December 2021 under the then Congress-led Punjab Government, has been at the center of several political and legal battles. The security withdrawal, which took place on the evening of March 29, has been termed by SAD as a “massive witch-hunt” aimed at silencing opposition voices.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sukhbir alleged that the AAP government is systematically targeting SAD leaders. “Withdrawal of the entire Z+ security cover of Bikram Singh Majithia confirms beyond doubt the dangerous and deadly designs of the AAP government against the SAD leadership,” he posted.
Referring to the ongoing legal troubles of his brother-in-law, Majithia, Sukhbir accused the AAP Government of persistently attempting to “falsely implicate” him in drug-related cases, despite Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s past written apology for leveling baseless allegations against Majithia.
“AAP’s desperation is evident as they have constituted a fifth Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the 2021 drug case. This is nothing but a clear example of political vendetta,” he added.
In a striking claim, Sukhbir linked Majithia’s security withdrawal to an alleged assassination attempt on his own life outside the Golden Temple in December 2024. The attack, carried out by Narain Singh Chaura, saw the accused firing at Sukhbir Badal from close range, only to be overpowered by plainclothes policemen before he could inflict harm.
“Withdrawal of Majithia’s security has to be seen in connection with the government’s complicity in the failed lethal attempt on my life — an attempt foiled only by the divine intervention of Guru Sahiban,” said Sukhbir.
Sukhbir further accused the Punjab Government of “deliberately weakening” the case against Chaura, highlighting that the accused was granted bail by an Amritsar court on March 26, raising serious concerns about the handling of the investigation.
The security withdrawal also comes at a time when SAD is grappling with internal strife. This is the first instance where Sukhbir Badal has openly defended Majithia after SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder accused him of backstabbing the party’s former leadership.
The internal discord within SAD was visible when Majithia and his associates distanced themselves from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s (SGPC) controversial decision to remove Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Sultan Singh. The move had intensified the rift between SAD’s traditional leadership and Majithia’s faction.
Sukhbir has issued a direct warning to AAP, holding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal personally responsible if any harm befalls Majithia or other SAD leaders. “If any harm comes to Bikram Singh Majithia or any of our leaders or workers, Bhagwant Mann, Arvind Kejriwal, and their associates will bear personal and direct responsibility,” he declared.
Sukhbir also alleged that senior AAP functionaries were openly issuing “murder threats” to SAD leaders and spokespersons. “The chief minister is maintaining complete silence on these dangerous developments,” he said.
So far, the Punjab government has not officially commented on the decision to withdraw Majithia’s security. However, sources indicate that the state’s security review committee periodically assesses threat perceptions, and Majithia’s case was among those reviewed recently.
Breaking his silence on the issue, Majithia expressed strong disapproval of the security withdrawal, stating that it was a desperate attempt by the AAP government to intimidate him.
“When they failed in silencing my voice, they withdrew my security on the evening of March 29,” he said.
Majithia also pointed out that despite spending over five months in Patiala jail before securing bail from the Punjab and Haryana High Court in August 2022, the government is still determined to “fix” him in politically motivated cases.
CM Must Learn From Past Mistakes, Set Aside Politics: Jakhar
Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar also weighed in on the controversy, cautioning the AAP government against making security decisions based on political considerations. “Whether the withdrawal of Bikram Singh Majithia’s security is politically motivated is a debate for another day. However, I must remind the Bhagwant Mann government that personal whims, fancies, and vendetta should never dictate such reckless decisions," Jakhar stated.
Drawing a parallel with the tragic killing of singer Sidhu Moosewala, Jakhar warned that security decisions must be taken with caution. “We have already seen the consequences of removing security amidst much fanfare. The chief minister must learn from past mistakes, set aside politics, and let the law take its course. Settling personal scores by withdrawing a leader’s security diminishes the dignity of the CM’s office — if the CM cares,” he said.
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