1. Amritpal Singh, detained under NSA in Assam, plans Lok Sabha to run independently from Khadoor Sahib.
2. Mother, Balwinder Kaur, confirms the decision, citing Amritpal’s commitment to the Sikh community’s concerns.
3. Amritpal’s candidacy aims to amplify Sikh community’s grievances and seek justice for Sikh prisoners.
New Delhi, April 27: Radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, currently detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in an Assam prison, is set to contest the Lok Sabha elections independently from Khadoor Sahib in Punjab.
His mother, Balwinder Kaur, confirmed this decision, emphasizing Amritpal’s resolve to address the issues confronting the Sikh community.
Amritpal, leader of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit, was arrested last year, and the NSA was invoked against him along with nine associates.
Despite being incarcerated, Amritpal aims to leverage the electoral platform to amplify the concerns of the Sikh community and advocate for the release of Sikh prisoners, among other issues.
Balwinder Kaur revealed that the decision to contest elections stemmed from the demands of the electorate and local panchayats. She underscored the persistent challenges faced by Sikhs and highlighted the need to confront governmental injustices and promote religious propagation.
Initially hesitant, Amritpal recognized the growing support for his candidacy and deemed it imperative to contest the polls given the prevailing circumstances.
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While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have already nominated their candidates for Khadoor Sahib, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Congress are yet to announce theirs.
Amritpal’s family, including his father Tarsem Singh and uncle Sukhchain Singh, recently visited him in jail but lamented the authorities’ strictness, hindering detailed discussions about his electoral aspirations.
Amritpal’s arrest followed his involvement in the Ajnala incident last year, where he and his supporters clashed with police, demanding the release of one of his aides.
He faces several charges related to public unrest and obstructing law enforcement.
Legal experts assert that preventive detention does not disqualify individuals from contesting elections under Indian law. However, detainees are prohibited from voting unless under preventive detention.
While the Shiromani Akali Dal had hinted at potential support for Amritpal, they refrained from commenting on his candidacy.
