The militant who never was: Behind ‘terror’ charge thrown at AAP

What's behind the 'terror' charge thrown at AAP ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections? How has the party responded?

3 min readAmritsarUpdated: Feb 18, 2022 08:30 PM IST

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal addresses the people during a roadshow, ahead of upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, in Phagwara. (PTI)

In the last leg of the Punjab election campaign, the Congress is harking back to a 2017 night stay by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal at the house of one Gurinder Singh in Moga. On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi repeated the claim that AAP leaders can be seen at “terrorist homes”. BJP and ally Amarinder Singh have also been talking of “separatist” elements returning should AAP win, while Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has accused AAP of “embracing radicals”.

Also read | Channi demands probe into separatist allegations against Kejriwal

So who is Gurinder Singh?

The man, the allegations

A citizen of England who spends most of his time there, Gurinder owns a house in his native Ghal Kalan village Moga, which he gives out on lease. When Kejriwal stayed at the house in 2017, Gurinder was not there.

The latter’s name had come up over a bomb attack near a temple in Baghapurana of Moga district in 1997. Gurinder was accused of being part of a module of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), which carried out the blast. However, the court had acquitted Gurinder of the charges.

In 2008, he was booked for hurting religious sentiments, but again cleared by the court.

The controversy

During the 2017 Assembly elections, when AAP made its debut in Punjab, Kejriwal travelled extensively across the state, staying at houses of supporters or at accommodations organised by them.

On January 29, days to go for the elections, Kejriwal stayed at Gurinder’s house. Two days later, there were twin blasts at Maur Mandi of Bathinda district, killing seven. Initially, as police talked of a Khalistani hand, the Congress and Akali Dal quickly seized on this, linking the blast to Kejriwal’s visit to Gurinder’s house and talking of Gurinder’s terror charges.

Story continues below this ad

Analysts believe the controversy had an effect on AAP’s prospects, with the Congress surging ahead on voting day on February 4. Rivals also talked about how AAP was never vocal on seeking the arrest of the culprits behind the Maur bomb blast. The gainer in the confusion over AAP’s role was the Congress.

Police investigation later found there was no Khalistani link to the Maur blast. A probe into Dera Sacha Sauda’s role is still on.

AAP’s defence

While it has not reacted to Rahul’s charge this time, AAP’s Punjab affairs in-charge in 2017 Sanjay Singh had slammed the party’s rivals. “Following protocols, the schedule of Delhi CM Kejriwal, including his night stay, was sent to the Punjab Police and intelligence beforehand, and it was the duty of police to inform us if there was anything objectionable,” he had said.

Sanjay Singh had also claimed that a local station house officer and joint commissioner level officer had been staying in the house on lease. “Are they also terrorists?”

Story continues below this ad

Police had clarified at the time that Gurinder had been acquitted by courts.

Newsletter | Click to get the day’s best explainers in your inbox

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

Loading Recommendations...

Mar 12: Latest News

Live Blog