JALANDHAR: India-administered Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has blatantly refused to revoke contentious National Security Act (NSA) invoked against pro-freedom Sikh leader and newly elected Member of Parliament from Khadoor Sahib constituency, Amritpal Singh, thereby drawing ire of the people. 

Responding to a media query at Jalandhar during a press conference on July 25 regarding Congress MP and former CM Charanjit Singh Channi’s parliament speech that favoured release of Amritpal Singh, Mann said, “It is their own stand. As per our stand, we are making efforts to maintain law and order in Punjab. I am not custodian of an MP, but of 3.5 crore people”. 

Since April last year, Amritpal Singh along with his nine aides are lodged in Dibrugarh jail of Assam under the NSA, which is termed as “draconian law” used to suppress political dissent in India. 

A day before the recently held parliamentary elections which were contested by Amritpal Singh as an independent candidate and he registered a thumping victory, Mann-led AAP government extended his and his nine aides detention under the NSA by one more year. While doing so, the Mann government did not bother the growing resentment among the people of Punjab against it. Once again, the CM showed ruthlessness against the Sikhs, as per human rights bodies. 

On the other hand, rising above the party stand, Channi registered a protest against Amritpal Singh’s confinement under the NSA in his daring speech. 

While delivering his speech during the monsoon session of the parliament, Channi was exposing emergency like situation in India in Modi regime. He was listing the various instances that reflect the emergency, including atrocities against minorities and unprivileged sections of the society. “There is another emergency. 20 lakh people of Punjab elected a youth as their Member of Parliament. However, he is being kept behind bars under the NSA. His freedom of speech is being suppressed. He is not able to raise the voice of his constituency in the parliament. This is an emergency”, he said.

While Sikh segments are thankful to Channi, they are resenting the anti-human rights attitude of Mann government which is reportedly working in understanding with BJP-led Central government of India.