Author Hardeep Singh

CHANDIGARH Pro-freedom jailed Sikh leader Amritpal Singh and Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, who is son of Indian PM Indira Gandhi’s assassin Beant Singh, have secured historic victory in the parliamentary polls from Khadoor Sahib and Faridkot constituencies respectively. Pro-freedom Sikh party Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and its other candidates also got sizeable number of votes.

Voters of Khadoor Sahib repeated the history of 1989 parliamentary election during which Simranjit Singh Mann contested the elections from Bhagalpur jail and secured a record breaking victory. The Indian government had to release him after the victory. Similarly, Amritpal Singh contested the elections from Dibrugarh jail where he is lodged to under the National Security Act (NSA), and secured thumping victory with highest victory margin (197120 votes) in Punjab. 

He toppled Congress’ Kulbir Singh Zira by the margin of 197120 votes. Amritpal got 404430 votes, while Zira got 207310 votes. AAP candidate and Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar remained on third place with 194836 votes. 

Pertinently, Badal Dal candidate Virsa Singh Valtoha has only got 86416 votes and remained on fourth place in the constituency which is predominantly a rural Sikh constituency and remained traditional bastion of the Akali Dal. The BJP candidate Manjit Singh Manna remained close to Valtoha with 86373 votes. 

Reacting on the victory, Amritpal’s father Tarsem Singh said, “This is victory of Khalsa Panth, for which the Sikh youths worked very hard. I hope Bhai Amritpal Singh will soon be released by the government and he will raise the voice of Panth in the parliament”. 

His mother Balwinder Singh, “This victory is dedicated to martyrs of 1984 army attack on Sri Darbar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib”. 

On the other hand, Khalsa defeated the Punjab ruling party AAP’s candidate and famous Punjabi singer Karamjit Anmol by 70053 votes. Khalsa got 298062 votes, while Anmol got 228009 votes. 

By electing both the Sikh candidates, the people of Punjab slapped the Indian government which is allegedly abusing human rights of the Sikhs. “The victory of Amritpal Singh is befitting reply of the people to the government which lodged him and his nine aides to Assam jail illegally under the black law of NSA. Now, he it will have to bow before the mandate of the people and have to release them”, said Imaan Singh Khara, legal advisor of Waris Punjab De (WPD) organization headed by Amritpal. 

Though Mann could not win the elections amid challenge of another politician having Panthic credential Sukhpal Singh Khaira, he got considerable votes (187246). His other party candidates also got sizeable votes in different constituencies. 

Results of these elections have paved the way for revival of pro-freedom Sikh politics in Punjab. 

The Government of India is already in a fix over the issue of Khalistan as world powers including US and Canada are extending sympathy to the struggle for the freedom. They have made India answerable over the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey (Canada) and assassination plot of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in US. Both the countries have already pointed finger over the alleged involvement of India in these plots, the government of India has ruled out these allegations.