Following the unexpected victory of Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh in the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat, his lawyer, Rajdev Singh Khalsa, has issued a stern warning to the central and state governments, asserting that the constituency’s residents will compel them to provide “relief” to their newly-elected representative.
Khalsa, representing Amritpal Singh, emphasized the activist’s efforts in combating drug abuse in Punjab and announced plans to pursue his bail vigorously. He condemned Singh’s arrest as both illegal and immoral, insisting that there is no alternative but for the government to grant him reprieve.
“The government will have no choice but to provide relief; the people have spoken. Both the BJP and AAP governments will be compelled to act. Amritpal Singh’s mission to rid Punjab of drugs has garnered widespread support, proving that his arrest was unjust,” Khalsa declared.
Dismissing allegations of law and order concerns and Hindu-Sikh tensions as pretextual, Khalsa criticized the “unscrupulous” actions of the Bhagwant Mann-led government, under which Singh was arrested.
Amritpal Singh’s landslide victory in the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat, securing a remarkable lead of 197,120 votes, has stirred controversy and renewed focus on his ongoing legal battle. His wife and legal counsel visited him in Dibrugarh Jail, underscoring the significance of his legal fight.
Singh’s arrest by Punjab police in April the previous year resulted in him being booked under the National Security Act, heightening tensions and drawing attention to his cause.
While Congress’s Jasbir Singh Gill clinched victory in Khadoor Sahib in 2019, the recent election results demonstrated a shift in political dynamics. Despite Congress retaining its seven seats in Punjab, the BJP’s increased vote share did not translate into maintaining its two previously held seats.
With the Bharatiya Janata Party falling short of a simple majority in the Lok Sabha, speculation arises about potential coalition arrangements, likely involving the National Democratic Alliance allies Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, to form a government. Meanwhile, the Congress, with 99 seats, remains a significant player in the evolving political landscape.
