Who is Amritpal Singh? Radical Sikh preacher to contest from Khadoor Sahib

Amritpal Singh, a radical Sikh preacher, who is currently held under the National Security Act (NSA) in an Assam prison, is all set to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Khadoor Sahib in Punjab as an independent candidate. This announcement came from his mother, Balwinder Kaur, who has been leading protests in Amritsar for the transfer of Amritpal and nine other detainees back to Punjab.

Amritpal Singh, the leader of the 'Waris Punjab De' group, was arrested on April 23 last year, and since then, the NSA has been invoked against him. Despite his incarceration, his legal counsel, Rajdev Singh Khalsa, confirmed his decision to enter the electoral fray.

Balwinder Kaur stated that her son's decision to contest was prompted by the demands of the community and local panchayats.

Initially hesitant about entering politics, Amritpal Singh reconsidered, given the support from the people. His family members, who recently visited him in jail, expressed frustration over authorities' restrictions but vowed to address the matter with higher officials.

Amritpal's arrest stemmed from an incident in Moga’s Rode village, followed by clashes with the police in Ajnala. He faces charges related to communal disharmony, attempted murder, and obstructing law enforcement.

Legal experts suggest that preventive detention does not disqualify an individual from contesting elections under Indian law. However, they clarified that voting rights of those under preventive detention are maintained.

As Amritpal Singh gears up for his electoral campaign, the political landscape in Khadoor Sahib becomes more intriguing, with AAP fielding Laljit Singh Bhullar and BJP nominating Manjeet Singh Manna. The positions of SAD and Congress candidates are yet to be announced.

Also watch: Radical preacher Amritpal Singh all set to enter poll fray