Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami called for the release of jailed Waris Punjab De activist and Lok Sabha Independent MP Amritpal Singh on Saturday, citing his huge support of the public. The pro-Khalistani leader has been lodged in a jail in Assam's Dibrugarh district under the National Security Act. He was sworn in as MP on Friday after winning from the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab as an Independent leader
Speaking at the inauguration of a laboratory at Miri-Piri Hospital in Haryana's Kurukshetra, Dhami emphasised, "People have given huge support to him. The governments should consider this, respect it and he (Amritpal) should be released", news agency PTI reported. He pointed out that Singh secured the Khadoor Sahib constituency by a margin of approximately two lakh votes.
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Amritpal Singh, who followed the late Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was arrested last year in Punjab's Moga. He was arrested after an incident where he and his supporters forcefully entered a police station in Punjab's Ajnala, brandishing swords and guns, and clashed with police to free one of his aides from custody.
SGPC Chief Lashes Out At Law-And-Order Situation In Punjab
In response to a query regarding the release of "Bandi Singhs," Sikh inmates who the community alleges are still being held in various jails after serving out their sentences, Dhami urged the Centre to release the prisoners.
He also hit out at the AAP government in Punjab over deteriorating the law-and-order situation in the state, concerning the safety of the people. The law-and-order situation is poor in Punjab, the SGPC chief remarked, as per PTI.
His comments followed the grave injuries suffered by Shiv Sena (Punjab) leader Sandeep Thapar on Friday in Ludhiana, where he was attacked in broad daylight by three armed attackers.