Amritpal Singh

Amritpal Singh Sandhu was born in 1993 in Jallupur Khera village located in the Baba Bakala tehsil of Amritsar district. Initially residing in Punjab's Amritsar district, he later relocated to Dubai at the age of 19, where he contributed to his family's transportation enterprise. Subsequently, in September 2022, he returned to India.

Since returning to India, Singh has been leading marches advocating for the protection of Sikh rights, a community comprising 1.7 per cent of the nation's population. He identifies himself as a spiritual leader, and his powerful speaking abilities, coupled with his commitment to combat the drug issue among the youth, have earned him a significant following across Punjab and other regions of India.

Singh's speeches have gained popularity among supporters of the Khalistan movement. He professes to draw inspiration from Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a prominent figure in the Khalistan movement, adopting similar attire and growing a long beard in emulation of Bhindranwale's style.

In the same month when he returned to India, he became the leader of Waris Punjab De, a group started by Deep Sidhu, an Indian actor and activist who passed away in a car accident in February 2022. This group played a big role in rallying farmers against changes in farming laws proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

He entered Punjab's religious and political arena when he assumed leadership of Waris Punjab De. Drawing inspiration from Deep Sidhu's speeches at the Shambhu Border, his approach diverged from that of the farm unions. He believed that the movement should not only aim for the repeal of farm laws but also strive for broader political and social changes in Punjab.

When addressing people protesting against a liquor manufacturing plant in Zira, he expressed concerns that such factories contribute to the gradual decline of Punjabi people, leading to increased addiction and water pollution.

He also believes that the weakening of Sikh traditions and the promotion of a mainstream culture that encourages Sikhs to abandon their traditional appearance, like cutting hair and shaving beards, is part of the same harmful trend of "silent genocide".

Additionally, he advocates for job opportunities to be prioritized for locals in Punjab, asserting that "Punjab is for Punjabis".

While some mainstream media outlets and political parties have accused him of attempting to destabilize Punjab, critics argue that his actions are exacerbating tensions between Sikhs and other communities, particularly Hindus. In certain public speeches, he claimed that the migration of Hindus from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, as well as Gujjar Muslims from Jammu, could pose an economic challenge to Punjabi Hindus and Muslims.

According to reports, the Ministry of Home Affairs instructed the Punjab government to monitor his actions closely. Captain Amarinder Singh has urged the government to take measures against him, while a faction of the Shiv Sena has demanded that he be charged under the UAPA.

Finally, he was arrested after a fierce confrontation in February of the previous year, during which his followers forcefully entered a police station demanding the release of Lovepreet Toofan, a close associate of his. Despite an intense car pursuit and a month-long search involving numerous troops, which led to the suspension of mobile internet services in the area, he was apprehended in Rode village, Moga, on April 23 of the same year. He faced charges under the National Security Act, which permits the detention of individuals considered a threat to national security without formal charges for up to a year. Subsequently, he was moved to Dibrugarh jail in Assam.

He intends to submit his nomination for the ongoing Lok Sabha election from the Sri Khadoor Sahib Constituency. He sought intervention from the high court, urging the Punjab government, Centre, and Election Commission to either allow him a seven-day release or make arrangements for him to file his nomination.

In personal life, he tied the knot with Kirandeep Kaur, an NRI based in the UK.