Congress MLA extends support to Amritpal Singh, SAD sends its former MLA to protesting families on hunger strike

Waris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh and others are in an Assam jail under the National Security Act and other sections.

Waris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh. (File Photo)

Punjab Congress MLA from Bholath Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Tuesday extended his support to the protest and hunger strike being staged by Waris Punjab De head Amritpal Singh and his supporters and their families to demand their transfer from an Assam jail to Punjab.

Former MLA of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Virsa Singh Valtoha also visited the dharna spot near the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

While Amritpal Singh and his aides have been on a hunger strike in Dibrugarh jail in Assam since February 16, their family members, including Amritpal Singh’s mother Balwinder Kaur, have been on a hunger strike at Heritage Street near the Golden Temple since February 22. Amritpal Singh was arrested in April last year.

Khaira, who is the first MLA to reach the protest site, said, “Amritpal has been locked in the state which has the lowest Sikh population. The chief minister of Assam is known for hateful statements against minorities. They can do anything with detainees. They can poison their food”.

Khaira compared the National Security Act (NSA) to the British-era Rowlatt Act which was revoked in 1922 after people opposed it. “But what is our government doing now? I found nothing that Amritpal Singh said or done and should have invoked the NSA. For the clash at Ajnala, there were IPC sections to deal with. But why were they sent far away under the NSA? This all happened on the instructions of Arvind Kejriwal and he admitted during a TV interview that it was a joint operation of state and Centre,” said Khaira.

“Did we form this Aam Aadmi Party government to allow the Haryana Police to enter Punjab and open fire at our people? No AAP MLA is speaking. They claim the legacy of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Baba Sahib Ambedkar. They would not have allowed the NSA to be imposed if they were alive. I want to ask Bhagwant Manna about this,” he added.

“Why is the Akal Takht Jathedar silent? I am not speaking against the Jathedar. He is our representative. But he should raise the issue of NSA with governments. What is the SGPC doing? Why is Shiromani Akali Dal Badal president Sukhbir Singh Badal afraid? Has anyone from Punjab’s Sikh leadership spoken on the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada? It is not easy for me to raise such issues while in Congress. They may even expel me,” said Khaira.

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He said, “The NSA should be imposed on those who killed Shubkaran Singh and on those who killed former Akal Takht Jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaunke, and also against those who carried out fake encounters in the state. But the NSA is imposed on those who are just preaching against drug addiction.”

“We are entering into dangerous times and what happened to young farmer Shubkaran Singh on the Shambhu border and Amritpal Singh can happen to anyone. Everyone should come forward to raise these issues. I had made it clear to my party that I would speak in support of Amritpal Singh soon after the crackdown on Waris Punjab De had begun,” he said.

He added the Akali Dal should forward and lead the agitation against the NSA being slapped against Amritpal Singh.

Meanwhile, Valtoha told reporters he visited those on hunger strike in Amritsar after discussing it with SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and the party was standing in support of the families.

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Amritpal Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Pappalpreet Singh, Kulwant Singh, Harjit Singh, Basant Singh, Bhagwant Singh, Sarabjit Singh Kalsi, Gurinder Pal Singh, and Sarabjit Singh have been jailed at Dibrugarh under the National Security Act and other sections.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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