Amritpal Singh has been making headlines in India recently, with his controversial views and his followers’ violent actions. The self-styled preacher, who is in his early thirties, has been advocating for the Khalistan movement, which calls for a separate homeland for Sikhs. His appearance, which resembles that of the late Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, has also drawn attention.
However, opinions on his popularity and support in the state of Punjab are divided, with some supporting him and others claiming it to be blown out of proportion. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of all you need to know about Amritpal Singh.
The Early Life of Amritpal Singh
Born on 17 January, 1993 in Jallupur Khaira, Amritsar, Singh’s early years are not well known. He is originally from Jallupur Khera in the Amritsar district of Punjab and moved to Dubai in 2012 to work for his family’s transport business. Singh’s LinkedIn profile states that he has a mechanical engineering degree from a university in Punjab and worked as an operational manager for a cargo company.
He gained popularity on social media over several years for his views on Sikh unity and statehood. In August 2022, he returned to India from Dubai looking very different from his old photos, having adopted a more traditional Sikh appearance with unshorn hair, a blue turban, a long beard, a steel bangle on his wrist, and a sacred dagger called a kirpan at his waist.
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BHINDRANWALE 2.0
During the farmer protests against the 3 farming laws in India in 2020-2021, Amritpal Singh gained popularity. He actively voiced his support for the farmer’s cause online and earned a reputation for being a controversial figure. He made comments about various political parties, as well as reportedly associated with some pro-Khalistan groups such as Dal Khalsa. In some parts of Punjab, he is referred to as “Bhindranwale 2.0.”
While addressing a gathering in Rode, Amritpal clarified that he doesn’t intend to copy Bhindranwale but considers him as his inspiration. He wants to walk the path shown by him and be like him, as he believes this is what every Sikh aspires to. He stated that he’s not even equal to the dust on Bhindranwale’s feet. According to reports, Amritpal currently dresses like Bhindranwale and is escorted by armed men.
WARIS PUNJAB DE
‘Waris Punjab De’ is a social organization that was founded by Sandeep Singh alias Deep Sidhu, a lawyer-actor-turned-activist, ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections in 2022. The organization was created as a pressure group to fight for the rights of Punjab and raise social issues. Sidhu gained prominence during the farmers’ protest in 2020 and was later accused of hoisting the Sikh flag at Red Fort during the farmers’ protest march on January 26, 2021, which resulted in his arrest. Despite the controversies surrounding Sidhu, Waris Punjab De aimed to provide a platform for the heirs of Punjab to come together and raise their voices. Sidhu passed away in a car crash last year.
Amritpal Singh’s appointment as the head of ‘Waris Punjab De’ caused controversy in September 2022. He held a ceremony in Rode, Moga district, dressed like Bhindranwale, and witnessed by thousands who raised pro-Khalistan slogans. However, Sidhu’s family distanced themselves from Amritpal, saying they never appointed him as the chief of their son’s organization. According to Sidhu’s brother Mandeep Singh, there are now two parallel organizations with the same name, with the original ‘Waris Punjab De’ being headed by Harnek Singh Uppal.
Also Read: All About Deep Sidhu – 10 Interesting Facts, Controversies, Political Connection
SOCIAL MEDIA BAN ON AMRITPAL SINGH
Amritpal Singh has faced restrictions on social media platforms due to his controversial remarks and pro-Khalistani tweets. His Twitter account was withheld in India, and the Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed the state government to monitor his activities closely.
In December 2022, his Instagram account was also erased worldwide, after previously being banned from Twitter. Sikh groups have criticized the trend of social media companies banning Sikh activists under pressure from the Indian government. However, neither Twitter nor Instagram has released any reasons for the bans.
VANDALIZATION OF GURUDWARAS
Amritpal Singh’s supporters created chaos at a gurdwara in Jalandhar as they vandalized the furniture, including chairs and sofas, and set them on fire. The self-proclaimed Sikh preacher was visiting various gurdwaras as part of his state-wide march titled ‘Khalsa Wahir’. Singh, during his visit to Model Town Gurdwara, objected to chairs and sofas being placed inside the gurdwara, claiming that they were against the sanctity of the place of worship. He added that gurdwaras had become like palaces.
Singh’s supporters immediately started destroying the furniture, and later collected them and set them on fire. The same outfit had vandalized another gurdwara at Biharipura village in Kapurthala district earlier on December 9. The officials had clarified that the chairs and sofas were kept to facilitate those who have health issues and cannot sit on the ground.
THREAT TO HOME MINISTER
Amritpal Singh issued a veiled threat to Home Minister Amit Shah on the death anniversary of Deep Sidhu. Singh insinuated that if Shah tried to suppress their voice, he would face a fate similar to Indira Gandhi. Singh also questioned if Shah would take action against those who talk about Hindu Rashtra and highlighted the difference between the inspiration of Hindus and Sikhs. This comes after HM Shah’s recent statement about keeping an eye on Khalistani supporters in Punjab.
PERSONAL LIFE
Amritpal Singh got married on 10th February 2023 to a UK-based NRI, Kirandeep Kaur. The wedding was a low-key affair and took place at Singh’s ancestral place, which is Kirandeep’s ancestral place too. He called his marriage an example of reverse migration. The wedding venue was shifted last minute due to privacy concerns.
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