Amritpal Singh, a separatist currently detained in Assam under the National Security Act, has made headlines by announcing his candidacy for the Lok Sabha elections from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib constituency as an Independent candidate. This unexpected move has sparked intrigue and debate within political circles and the public alike.
The decision was revealed by Singh’s legal counsel, Rajdev Singh Khalsa, who claimed to have met Singh in Dibrugarh central jail and persuaded him to enter the electoral fray in the interest of the ‘Khalsa Panth’. Khalsa stated that Singh, the chief of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit, agreed to contest the elections as an Independent candidate to serve the Sikh community.
However, Singh’s father, Tarsem Singh, initially expressed surprise at the news, asserting that his son had never shown any prior inclination towards politics. He refrained from making further comments until after meeting his son the following day.
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Amritpal Singh’s entry into politics comes against the backdrop of his arrest last year in April, along with nine of his associates, after the Punjab Police invoked the NSA against them. Singh, known for his association with the deceased Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was apprehended following a manhunt in Moga’s Rode village. His arrest was preceded by the February 23 Ajnala incident, where Singh and his supporters clashed with police at a station on the outskirts of Amritsar, demanding the release of one of his aides.
Singh and his associates face multiple charges, including attempts to murder, attacks on police personnel, and creating public disturbances. Despite being detained in Dibrugarh jail, Singh’s influence appears undiminished, as evidenced by his decision to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
The news of Singh’s candidacy has stirred up mixed reactions, with some lauding his commitment to the Sikh cause, while others express concerns about his controversial past and potential impact on regional stability. As the political landscape in Punjab braces for this unexpected development, all eyes are on Khadoor Sahib constituency to witness how Singh’s entry into electoral politics will unfold and whether it will have any significant ramifications in the upcoming elections.
