Amidst swirling controversies and conflicting statements, Khadoor Sahib MP and pro-Khalistan ideologue Amritpal Singh has unequivocally distanced himself from remarks made by his mother, Balwinder Kaur, asserting that he was not a supporter of Khalistan. Amritpal, head of ‘Waris Punjab De’, is currently lodged at Assam’s Dibrugarh jail facing stringent National Security Act (NSA).
Amritpal, in an official statement issued through his team on Saturday night, expressed dismay over his mother’s comments and reaffirmed his unwavering dedication to the ideals of the Sikh panth. “When I learned of the statement made by ‘Mata ji’ yesterday, I was deeply hurt. While I believe that ‘Mata ji’ may have made this statement inadvertently, such assertions should never come from my family or anyone associated with me,” read the statement.
“Dreaming of ‘Khalsa Raj’ is not a crime but a matter of pride. Countless Sikhs have laid down their lives to realize this dream, and we cannot waver from this path,” he said emphatically.
Singh, who has been vocal about his commitment to Sikh sovereignty, underscored his prioritization of panthic values over familial ties. “I have repeatedly declared on public platforms that if ever faced with a choice between ‘panth’ and family, I will always choose the ‘panth’,” he affirmed in his statement titled ‘Official Statement by Bhai Amritpal Singh’.
The controversy erupted when Balwinder Kaur, during a media interaction in Amritsar on Friday, asserted that her son is not a Khalistani supporter and urged for his release to focus on addressing Punjab’s pressing issues. She later clarified, in a video message, that her statement had been misinterpreted by the media.
In response, Amritpal acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue and drew a historical parallel to illustrate his stance. “There is a historical incident where, amidst the martyrdom of Sikhs with Banda Singh Bahadur, a 14-year-old youth’s mother attempted to save him by disavowing his Sikh identity. In response, the youth declared that if she denies him as a Sikh, he denies her as his mother. While extreme, this example conveys a fundamental principle,” he said.
“I caution my family against any compromise on Sikh sovereignty and urge them to maintain utmost clarity while engaging with the sangat (congregation),” he emphasized.
Amritpal and Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid were recently granted parole to attend their swearing-in ceremony as Lok Sabha members. Amritpal, who contested the 2024 elections independently, secured victory from the Khadoor Sahib constituency with a substantial margin of 1,97,120 votes over Congress candidate Kulbir Singh Zira.
Currently incarcerated, Amritpal was temporarily transferred to Delhi for the oath-taking ceremony. His arrest stems from a confrontation in Moga's Rode village last year, where he and his supporters clashed with police while attempting to free an associate from custody.
