On Saturday, 6th July, pro-Khalistan separatist leader and independent MP from Punjab, Amritpal Singh, issued a statement refuting his mother’s statement where she claimed that Amritpal is not a “Khalistan” sympathiser. In his statement, criticising his mother, Amritpal Singh said that dreaming of Khalsa Raj was not a crime but a matter of pride. He further asserted that if a time comes when he has to choose between “Panth” (religion) and his family, he would choose the former.
ਰਾਜ ਬਿਨਾ ਨਹਿ ਧਰਮ ਚਲੈ ਹੈਂ॥
— Amritpal Singh (@singhamriitpal) July 6, 2024
ਧਰਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਸਭ ਦਲੈ ਮਲੈ ਹੈਂ॥
ਗੁਰੂ ਰੂਪ ਗੁਰੂ ਪਿਆਰੀ ਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਤ ਜੀਓ ॥
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਹਿ ॥
ਕੱਲ ਮਾਤਾ ਜੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਬਿਆਨ ਬਾਰੇ ਜਦੋਂ ਅੱਜ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਪਤਾ ਲੱਗਾ ਤਾਂ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨ ਬਹੁਤ ਦੁਖੀ ਹੋਇਆ ॥ਬੇਸ਼ੱਕ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਯਕੀਨ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਮਾਤਾ ਜੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਇਹ ਬਿਆਨ ਅਣਜਾਣੇ ਵਿੱਚ…
Amritpal said, “When I learned about the statement given by Mata Ji yesterday, I felt very saddened. Although I believe that Mata Ji gave this statement unknowingly, such a statement should not come from my family or anyone who supports me. Dreaming of Khalsa Raj is not a crime, it is a matter of pride. We cannot even think of stepping back from the path for which millions of Sikhs have sacrificed their lives. I have often said from various stages that if I had to choose between the Panth and my family, I would always choose the Panth.”
“I admonish my family to never even think about compromising on Sikh rule, let alone speak about it. Such negligence should not happen again while interacting with the congregation in the future”, Amritpal further said.
Statement by Amritpal Singh’s mother
Earlier, on Friday, 5th July, Amritpal Singh’s mother, Balwinder Kaur, spoke to the media as his son took oath as a Lok Sabha MP in Delhi. She claimed that Amritpal is not a Khalistani supporter and urged the government to release him immediately. She said, “He is not a Khalistani supporter. By speaking about Punjab’s rights and saving Punjab’s youth (from drugs), can anyone become a supporter of Khalistan? He fought elections within the ambit of the Constitution and took oath. One should not say such a thing. He will raise Punjab’s issues and will save youth (from drugs).”
#WATCH | Amritsar, Punjab: Balwinder Kaur, mother of 'Waris Punjab De' Chief and independent MP from Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat Amritpal Singh, says, "He (Amritpal) is not a Khalistani supporter. Does speaking about Punjab, saving the youth of Punjab make him a Khalistani… pic.twitter.com/c5RNE9GaUr
— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2024
She asserted that the main issue on which the elections were fought was the drug menace and the release of “Bandi Singhs“. For those who are unaware, Bandi Singhs is a term used for jailed Khalistani Sikhs who were sent to prison for their involvement in terror activities. Pro-Khalistani Sikhs have been demanding their release by staging protests for years.
It appears that her statement caused a stir among pro-Khalistani supporters who voted for Amritpal Singh in the elections. In the statement issued in Punjabi, Amritpal Singh’s mother accused the media of misrepresenting her statement. She said, “I said that we have won the elections as per the Constitution and now he [Amritpal Singh] would talk about the other matters. However, the media put words in my mouth by asking about Khalistan. The supporters should not take my statement otherwise as the media has a habit of misrepresenting facts. They did not show how Sikhs are facing atrocities but they used my statement in a wrong way”.
#Indian MP from Khadoor Sahib – s#AmritpalSingh 's mother has now issued a statement regarding her previous remarks about #Khalistan. However there has been no formal statement or letter issued by Amritpal Singh in recent times even after his victory in Parliamentary elections. pic.twitter.com/FtcQERjYYQ
— Khalsa Media News (KM News) (@KhalsaIntMedia) July 6, 2024
Amritpal Singh took oath as MP
Amritpal Singh, who is currently lodged in Dibrugarh Jail after being booked under the National Security Act (NSA) by the Government of Punjab for his involvement in the Khalistani movement, was released on parole for four days so that he could take oath as Lok Sabha MP from Punjab. He won the elections from Khadoor Sahib. Singh’s release came with several conditions including condition that he would not enter Punjab and would not interact with anyone including the media. He was taken to Delhi for the oath ceremony and was sent back to Dibrugarh jail immediately after taking the oath.
