Pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh may contest Lok Sabha polls
What's the story
Jailed radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Punjab's Khadoor Sahib seat as an independent candidate, his counsel claimed on Wednesday. Singh—the chief of "Waris Punjab De," a pro-Khalistan outfit, is lodged in Dibrugarh central jail, Assam, under the National Security Act. His legal counsel Rajdev Singh Khalsa told PTI, "I met...[Singh]...and requested...that in the interests of 'Khalsa Panth' he should fight elections this time...[he] accepted my request."
Family reaction
Tarsem Singh remains silent on his son's political aspirations
His father, Tarsem Singh refused to comment on the matter on Wednesday. He said he will speak about Amritpal's Lok Sabha poll candidature only after meeting his son, while asserting that he earlier had shown no interest in joining politics. "We have not decided anything so far...Tomorrow I will be going to Dibrugarh to meet Amritpal, then we will take a decision," Tarsem said. He added that if Singh decides to contest, he would do so as an independent candidate.
Legal troubles
Singh arrested on April 23, 2023
To recall, Singh was arrested on April 23, 2023 from a gurudrawa in Rode, native village of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the 14th head of Damdami Taksal and militant separatist who was killed in Operation Blue Star. The Punjab Police launched a crackdown following the Ajnala incident on February 23, 2023. During that event, Singh and his friends, some of whom had swords and guns, broke through barriers and went into a police station outside of Amritsar city.
Criminal cases
9 of Singh's associates lodged in Dibrugarh jail
They clashed with law enforcement officers in an effort to secure the release of Lovepreet Singh Toofan, one of their associates. Singh and his companions faced multiple criminal charges, including inciting disharmony among communities, attempted murder, assaults on police personnel, and obstructing the lawful duties of public servants. Nine of his associates are also lodged in Dibrugarh jail.