Amritpal Singh, the separatist who is promising a drugs-free Punjab

In the Lok Sabha election campaign, pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh’s family is focusing on the release of former Sikh militants from prison, ending the drug menace in Punjab and protecting Sikh identity

In Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib, posters with pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh’s face and his poll symbol, the microphone, have been put up by villagers in support of the Independent candidate, currently lodged in the Dibrugarh Jail, for the Lok Sabha election on June 1. 

Mr. Amritpal, 31, was arrested by the Punjab Police from Moga’s Rode village last April and was charged under the National Security Act after a month-long manhunt launched by the police and security agencies against him and his outfit Waris Punjab De. There are at least 12 criminal cases against him. 

Also read: Explained | What is Waris Punjab De and why has its rise set alarm bells ringing?

For his mother, Balwinder Kaur, who has been at the forefront of all rallies and roadshows, the idea to make Mr. Amritpal run for the Lok Sabha came from several sarpanch heads of Khadoor Sahib. His followers believe that Mr. Amritpal should contest the election like Sangrur Lok Sabha MP and Sikh radical leader Simranjit Singh Mann. Mr. Mann was arrested in 1984 and imprisoned for five years in connection with the assassination of Indira Gandhi. He was released after he won the Lok Sabha election in 1989 from the erstwhile Tarn Taran seat in absentia. 

With no communication between Mr. Amritpal and his family, because the jail has permitted only physical meetings for prisoners, the family finds it difficult to travel to Assam to inform the candidate about the preparations. The last time the family spoke to Mr. Amritpal was when he was signed up for the election. 

In the election campaign, Mr. Amritpal’s family is focusing on the release of former Sikh militants from prison, ending the drug menace in Punjab and protecting Sikh identity. In posters and pamphlets in Khadoor Sahib, Mr. Amritpal is seen wearing a blue turban and a white robe. Many supporters have put his sticker on their phones. At his house in Jallupur Kheda, workers and supporters discuss their plan of action. Each person has been given a task at the house where everybody, from a child to the elderly, has something to do. On the streets, his family members and supporters have been organising rallies. 

While he continues to remain imprisoned, Mr. Amritpal’s ideology captures social media, said Balraj Singh, 28, a farmer, who was at the farmers’ protest in Delhi. Mr. Amritpal can be seen on Instagram and Facebook where the account ‘We Support Bhai Amritpal Singh’ shares updates on the roadshows and rallies. Mr. Balraj said social media has mobilised support for the candidate.