Radical preacher Amritpal Singh has distanced himself from a statement by his mother about his stand on “Khalistan,” a secessionist idea promoted by hardliners for a separate Sikh nation.
Amritpal Singh, who was elected as MP from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib seat while in jail in Assam under the National Security Act (NSA), was last week granted parole for four days to take oath.
A written clarification disowning his mother’s statement was issued by the Sikh leader through his team on July 6, the day he took the oath of office.
“Amritpal Singh is not a supporter of Khalistan. Raising a voice for the rights of Punjab and working for the betterment of the youth does not make anyone a supporter of Khalistan. He contested the elections within the limits of the Indian constitution. Now, he has also taken an oath of the constitution. In such a situation, he should not be mentioned as the same,” Balwinder Kaur told reporters.
After the video of her statement went viral and created a furore, she appealed to people not to misconstrue it.
On Saturday night, Amritpal also issued a statement that said, “When I discovered today the statement made by Mata ji yesterday, I felt deeply hurt. Even though I believe Mata ji spoke unknowingly, such a statement should never come from my family or anyone who supports me.”
Stressing that he will always choose the Panth over his family, Singh added, “Dreaming of Khalsa Raj is not just a right but a matter of immense pride. Countless Sikhs have laid down their lives for this dream, and we cannot even fathom stepping back from this sacred path. I have often declared from stages that if ever faced with choosing between the Panth and my family, I will always choose the Panth without hesitation.”
“The historical example of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s young companion stands as a testament to this principle. When the mother tried to save her son by denying his Sikh identity, the boy bravely proclaimed that if she claims I am not a Sikh, then she is not my mother. Though this example may seem harsh for this situation, it profoundly captures the essence of unwavering commitment,” he said.
“I unequivocally warn my family that not even thinking about compromising on the concept of a Sikh State could be entertained. Such lapses must never occur in the future while engaging with the Sangat,” he added.
Singh, who is lodged in Assam’s Dibrugarh jail, leads the “Waris Punjab De” political group. He ran independently in the Lok Sabha elections and defeated Congress candidate Kulbir Singh Zira by a margin of nearly 2 lakh votes.
During the poll campaign of the radical Sikh leader, he was projected as an anti-drug crusader and religious preacher.
Inspired by Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Singh has been involved in multiple cases like inciting disharmony, attempted murder, and assaulting police officers, among others, along with his associates.
Last year, Singh and his supporters, armed with swords and guns, forcibly entered a police station on the outskirts of Amritsar. They clashed with police to secure the release of Lovepreet Singh Toofan, one of Singh’s aides. The Punjab Police intensified their actions following the incident on February 23 in Ajnala.
Singh was arrested in Moga in April last year after being on the run for a month. He had narrowly escaped in Jalandhar on March 18 by changing vehicles as well as his appearance.
His detention, which was set to end on July 24, was extended by a year on June 3, just a day before the Lok Sabha election results.
