Amritpal Singh: Deep Sidhu’s successor, 29-yr-old radical returned from Dubai to lead a following

Waris Punjab De followers enter Ajnala police station near Amritsar, Thursday. (Express photo by Rana Simranjit Singh)

Amritpal first caused consternation with his radical rhetoric when he flew back from Dubai to take over as the chief of Waris Punjab De, a “pressure group” formed by actor-activist Deep Sidhu, now deceased, last September. His elevation took place at Rode, the native village of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, amid pro-Khalistan slogans.

The self-styled preacher, who was clean-shaven until November 2021, has traversed quite a distance in the last few months with his amrit sanchar (baptism) mission, reminiscent of the one started by Bhindranwale in the early-1980s.

Five days ago, he was among 25 people booked for abduction, assault and snatching following a complaint by a former follower.

Varinder Singh, a Sikh preacher, had alleged that he was kidnapped and beaten up soon after he uploaded a video accusing Amritpal and his followers of spreading false propaganda. Lovepreet Singh Tufan, now in Ajnala police’s custody, was among the accused.

Earlier this week, there were murmurs that Amritpal, who married an NRI from London on February 11, was softening his stance when in a press conference on February 21, he clarified that he had not issued any threat to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This statement came two days after some sections of the media reported that he had issued a veiled threat to Shah on the death anniversary of Deep Sidhu, while mentioning the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi.

Amritpal, who not only dresses like Bhindranwale but also uses the same language, calls the latter his inspiration.

Before he returned from Dubai last September, most people in the state had only seen or heard Amritpal on social media — that too after the farmers’ agitation.

A resident of Jallupur Khera in Amritsar, Amritpal is the youngest of three children of Tarsem Singh and Balwinder Kaur. While Tarsem keeps shuttling between Dubai and India, Balwinder lives in the village. Although he remained active on Facebook since 2012, when he went to Dubai, often taking up issues concerning Punjab, Amritpal, who worked as a dispatcher in his family-owned transport business for 10 years, never got much traction before 2019 when he came out in support of farmers’ agitation against the now-repealed agri laws.

He was also a vocal supporter of Deep Sidhu and the role the Punjabi actor played in the farm stir.

Interestingly, during his Dubai days, Amritpal used social media to target regional and national political parties, feminists, activists, Khalsa Aid and even some pro-Khalistan groups such as Dal Khalsa.

During a Facebook Live session in 2019, responding to allegations from a person that he was being funded by Pakistan’s intelligence agency, Amritpal, had said, on a lighter note: “Now, don’t wish me Ram Ram, wish me Salam Waleikum. Now, I am being connected with the ISI.”

Last year, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) wrote to the Punjab government expressing concern over the alleged suspicious activities of Amritpal. Former chief minister and BJP leader Capt Amarinder Singh warned the Aam Aadmi Party government to wake up against the activities of “such forces which are inimical to Punjab” and the nation.

“People of Punjab want to know who are the forces behind this youth who had recently moved to Punjab from Dubai…it is the duty and responsibility of the state government to confront such forces and their activities,” said the veteran leader.

Finance Minister Harpal Cheema had subsequently assured the state Assembly that the AAP government would investigate Amritpal’s background.

Known for his offensive language, and unapologetic nature, Amritpal defended Deep Sidhu on social media, especially after the actor was arrested and most political parties, and farmer groups had shunned him.

But Deep’s brother Mandeep has said that the family never made Amritpal the head of ‘Waris Panjab De’. “None of us, including Deep, ever met him. He was in touch with Deep over phone for sometime but later he had blocked Amritpal. We do not know how he has declared himself head of Waris Punjab De. He is misusing our name to propagate anti-social activities,” Mandeep had earlier told the Indian Express.