Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) on Sunday (April 28) introduced its support to jailed Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh who has determined to step into the fray for the Lok Sabha Elections from the Khadoor Sahib parliamentary constituency in Punjab as an Independent candidate. SAD (A) president Simranjit Singh Mann informed the media that his social gathering will withdraw its candidate from the seat after Amritpal Singh, who’s at present lodged in Assam jail, information his nomination papers.
The Mann-led outfit had earlier introduced Harpal Singh Baler as its candidate from the Khadoor Sahib seat within the state. SAD (A) president Mann stated his social gathering has determined to subject Jagvir Singh Sahungra from the Jalandhar (reserve) parliamentary constituency and Gurinder Singh from Gurdaspur.
Amritpal Singh behind bars
Amritpal, who’s behind the bars in Assam’s Dibrugarh below the National Security Act (NSA), will enter the fray as an Independent candidate, his mom confirmed on Friday. Earlier, his counsel had on Wednesday stated that the Khalistan sympathiser will contest polls from the Khadoor Sahib seat.
‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit chief Amritpal was arrested in April 2023. He, together with 9 of his associates, is at present jailed in Assam.
Punjab will go to polls within the final section of seven-phased normal elections on June 1. The votes can be counted on June 4.
I don’t think about myself citizen of India: Amritpal Singh
In an interview with information company ANI in February final yr, Amritpal had stated that he does “not” think about himself a citizen of India and had referred to as the passport merely a “travel document” stating that it doesn’t make him an Indian.
“Militancy is not something that I am able to start. Nobody can start or end militancy. Militancy is a very natural phenomenon. It happens after a long period of suppression anywhere. Is militancy a constructive thing to start? I can order someone to start militancy, it does not happen like that. There is a peaceful protest. When Amit Shah said that he will suppress things, I said there will be consequences. It’s not just about Indira Gandhi’s murder as consequence. It’s not a threat to Home Minister. I would say is a threat to us. What options do we have when there are legal binaries in India? I don’t consider myself a citizen of India. I just have a passport, which does not make me Indian. It’s a travel document,” he had stated.
(With PTI inputs)
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