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In a move poised to stir political waters, the Punjab government has submitted a parole request for National Security Act (NSA) detainee Amritpal Singh to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to allow the pro-Khalistan Sikh preacher to take his oath as a Member of Parliament (MP) from Khadoor Sahib. Currently, Amritpal is detained under the stringent NSA in Assam's Dibrugarh Jail.
 
The development comes a day after the National Investigating Agency (NIA) had given the go-ahead to the Baramulla MP-elect Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, to take oath. Jailed since 2019 in Delhi’s Tihar Jail after he was charged by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in a terror funding case. He is currently lodged in Tihar jail, Rashid has been granted two-hour custody parole to take oath as a Lok Sabha MP on July 5.
 
Amritpal, on the other hand, has been detained under the NSA since April 2023, with the State Government extending his detention for another year. Despite his detention, Amritpal contested Lok Sabha polls from the jail and went on to secure a resounding victory from the Khadoor Sahib parliamentary seat defeating Congress candidate Kulbir Singh Zira with nearly two lakh votes.
 
Amritpal’s case is unique as he was elected, with over four lakhs votes polled in his favour, while being in jail, underscoring the public support he commands.
 
His advocate and also a former MP Rajdev Singh Khalsa said that the initial application was submitted to Amritsar Deputy Commissioner. “As the case registered in Amritsar, we moved for parole through the District Magistrate, who then forwarded it to the Punjab Home Secretary. The Home Secretary has now taken it up with the Lok Sabha Speaker,” said Khalsa.
 
Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Khalsa noted that an elected member has just 60 days to take the oath. “As of now, the Lok Sabha Speaker has not acted on the application, but we remain hopeful for a swift response,” he said, adding that Amritpal Singh’s case has been a point of contention due to its political and legal implications.
 
He added that Amritpal’s family has also sought an audience with the Lok Sabha Speaker to expedite the parole process. “We requested a meeting with the Speaker yesterday, and we hope to receive a response soon,” Khalsa noted.
 
On February 23, 2023, thousands of his supporters stormed the Ajnala police station in Amritsar under his leadership. This led to the issuance of a non-bailable warrant against him. Amritpal went into hiding on March 18 and was subsequently arrested by Punjab Police in Moga on April 23. Since then, he has been detained in Dibrugarh Jail in Assam, accused of supporting Khalistani ideology.
 
In response to the parole request, the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is expected to coordinate with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to ensure the necessary security arrangements are in place for Amritpal to take his oath.
 
Khalsa expressed optimism that the oath-taking could be arranged within a week. “The oath-taking ceremony must take place in the Lok Sabha, as it is the designated venue for such proceedings. The Lok Sabha Speaker has the authority to arrange this, and we expect that security measures will be a primary consideration in setting the date,” he said.
 
Amritpal’s family has also sought clarity on the process. “We have requested a formal meeting with the Lok Sabha Speaker to discuss the arrangements,” said Amritpal’s father Tarsem Singh.