Sangrur MP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann whose Twitter account was withheld in India “in response to a legal demand” on Sunday expressed fears that on-the-run self-proclaimed Sikh preacher and ‘Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh may be eliminated by Punjab police. Mann during a news conference in Mansa said he “feared” that Amritpal Singh may be eliminated in an encounter. “If he (Amritpal) is not produced before a magistrate by tomorrow, we will think he has been eliminated in an encounter. If this happens, it will lead to a big issue worldwide among the Sikhs. And I as a responsible MP suggest to the government that don’t do anything which results in his (Amritpal’s) elimination.” Mann also told reporters that Amritpal Singh did not commit anything against the law and “only sought the release of his supporter saying he was falsely implicated in a case and should be released, and who was eventually released”. Mann accused the Centre of “trying to make Hindutva government on the lines of Kashmir by dissolving the Punjab government. (CM) Bhagwant (Mann) has himself invited the trouble by giving an impression that peace got disturbed in Punjab”. Adding that the CM should have consulted him, he said, SAD (Amritsar) will hold demonstrations outside deputy commissioners’ offices in Punjab. In related developments, a section of Sikh politicians in UK and Canada were among those who expressed concerns over the police crackdown and suspension of mobile internet services in Punjab. UK Labour MP for Slough Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi in a tweet on Sunday said, “Very worrying reports coming from #India. Praying that the tense situation is soon resolved and that human rights of all are respected.” Leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party Jagmeet Singh, in a set of three tweets on Saturday, wrote, “These draconian measures are unsettling for many given their historical use to execute extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances during the 1984 Sikh Genocide. I am calling on Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government to immediately contact their Indian counterparts to express concern.” Deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada Tim S Uppal on Saturday tweeted: “Very concerned about reports coming out of Punjab, India.”
