On June 4, 2024, the Lok Sabha Election results sent shockwaves across the nation as two separatist leaders won seats in Punjab. Amritpal Singh from Khadoor Sahib (Punjab), and Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa from Faridkot (Punjab) emerged victorious as independent candidates. Notably, one of the two winners is currently in jail. Apart from the winners, four other Khalistani separatists contested the elections and garnered significant vote shares, if not won completely. In all six Khalistani separatists fighting elections have garnered over 10 lakh votes which is alarming.
Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa
In Faridkot, Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, the son of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassin, Beant Singh, won as an independent candidate. He garnered 2,98,062 votes, amounting to a 29.38 per cent vote share, defeating Aam Aadmi Party’s Karamjit Singh Anmol, who received 2,28,009 votes, representing a 22.48 per cent vote share.
The Khalsa family is known for its pro-Khalistani sentiments, advocating for a separate Sikh state. Sarabjeet’s victory underscores the persistent undercurrents of the Khalistani movement in Punjab, posing a significant threat to India’s unity and integrity.
Amritpal Singh
In Khadoor Sahib, pro-Khalistani separatist leader Amritpal Singh, currently detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Dibrugarh Jail, won by a substantial margin. Amritpal secured 4,04,430 votes, translating to a 38.62 per cent vote share, defeating Indian National Congress’s Kulbur Singh Zira, who received 2,07,310 votes, representing a 19.8 per cent vote share.
Amritpal Singh rose to prominence in Punjab after assuming leadership of the late Deep Sidhu’s organisation, Waris Punjab De, also known for its pro-Khalistani stance. Notably, Amritpal was seen as a Bhindranwale 2.0 by pro-Khalistani elements in the state.
In 2023, central agencies and Punjab Police launched a manhunt against Amritpal Singh for his pro-Khalistani and anti-India activities. The search began in March 2023, and despite evading capture for over a month, he was eventually arrested at the end of April 2023.
Amritpal, who adopted attire reminiscent of Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale during his Punjab march, initially presented his movement as a fight against the state’s drug problem. By the time of his arrest, he had established a weapon training centre and amassed a significant following, as evidenced by his election victory. The election of a Khalistani leader with over 4 lakh votes is a concerning sign for national security.
Simranjit Singh Mann
Simranjit Singh Mann (born 20 May 1945) is a former Indian Police Service officer and a former Member of the Parliament in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India, representing the constituency of Sangrur since 2022. He lost the elections in 2024 and Gurmeet Singh meet Hayer became the new member of parliament.
He is the president of the political party Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar). Mann has served three-times as an MP; once from Taran Tarn between 1989 and 1991, and twice from Sangrur between 1999-2004 and since 2022. He is known as a Khalistani supporter and his party is known for their pro-Khalistan stances.
Interestingly, Simranjit Singh Mann’s victory in the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-poll in 2022 served as a catalyst, prompting more separatists to join the electoral race. He defeated the ruling AAP’s Gurmail Singh by a margin of 5,822 votes. Mann decided to contest from the same constituency again this time.
Mann is not alone in his contest; he fielded six more candidates from various Lok Sabha constituencies. Khushalpal Singh Mann, Baldev Singh Gagra, Amritpal Singh Chandra, and Moninderpal Singh will contest from Anandpur Sahib, Faridkot, Ludhiana, and Patiala, respectively. Harjeet Singh Virk and Khazan Singh have been fielded from Karnal and Kurukshetra constituencies. All of them are hard-line Khalistani supporters.
Kamaljit Singh Brar
Kamaljeet Brar, once a district chief of the Congress in Moga, was expelled from the party in November 2022 for his support of Amritpal Singh. This setback, however, has not deterred him from his political ambitions. Instead, Brar turned it into an opportunity, aligning his campaign with the controversial Amritpal Singh, who is currently detained under the National Security Act.
Brar’s campaign strategy is bold and unconventional, using Amritpal’s image and rhetoric to garner attention and social media views. He even managed to clinch Amritpal’s election symbol of a microphone, a move that has raised eyebrows and sparked curiosity.
In his campaign, Brar prominently featured Amritpal’s images on his publicity materials and talked about him in public gatherings and speeches. His strategy was not just about endorsing Amritpal but also included berating the Punjab Congress president, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. Brar has labelled Warring a “traitor of the Sikhs” for wearing a T-shirt with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s face and the tagline: “Maa Tujhe Salaam”. This is a reference to Operation Bluestar, a military raid ordered by Indira Gandhi on the Golden Temple to flush out terrorists, an event that continues to be a sensitive issue among Sikhs.
Brar’s campaign, thus, was not just about seeking votes, but also about making a statement and challenging the status quo. His strategy is a clear example of how politics can sometimes take unexpected turns, leading to alliances and strategies that defy traditional norms. He got 42500 votes.
Amritpal Singh Chhandran
Amritpal Singh Chhandran’s grand father was allegedly killed by the police during the height of the militancy era in Punjab in 1991. When he was just nine months old, his father, a Khalistan proponent and then chief of the Bhindranwale Tiger Force (BTF), was allegedly picked up by the Punjab Police. On June 16, 1992, his father was found killed, the body reportedly bearing marks of torture and one leg severed.
Now, 30 years later, Amritpal Singh Chhandran carries the mantle of his father, Rashpal Singh Chhandran, with pride as the chief of the BTF.
In pursuit of this belief, Chhandran contested from the Amritsar seat on the ticket of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) but was unsuccessful. He had one criminal case against him at the time of the election.
Lakhbir Singh ‘Lakha Sidhana’
Gangster-turned-activist Lakhbir Singh ‘Lakha Sidhana’ contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) for the Bathinda seat. Party president Simranjit Singh Mann made the announcement, highlighting Sidhana’s past political activities and his involvement in the 2020 farmers’ agitation outside Delhi.
Sidhana, 44, has a history of political activism, having finished second in the Maur assembly election in 2022 with 28,091 votes. His political journey includes a stint with the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) in 2012, where he was a fellow contestant with present Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann.
Once known for his criminal activities, Sidhana shifted to political activism and later became a self-styled protector of Punjab’s language and culture. His new party, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), contested seats in Punjab and Haryana. However, he lost from his seat.
In a related development, Sandeep Singh Sunny, who allegedly killed a Shiv Sena leader Sudhir Suri in 2022, is also contesting the elections from Amritsar. Sunny is a supporter of Amritpal Singh, who is also contesting from Khadoor Sahib. Simranjit Singh Mann has approached Sunny not to contest and instead support his son Iman Singh Mann, who is keen to contest from Amritsar.
The irony of these separatist leaders participating in elections under the Indian Constitution, despite their expressed disbelief in it, underscores the complex dynamics at play. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of current strategies to counter the separatist movement and the need for a more comprehensive approach to address the underlying issues driving these sentiments.
The situation in Punjab requires careful monitoring and a nuanced approach to address the root causes of the separatist sentiments. It also necessitates a broader national conversation about unity, diversity, and the future of India’s federal structure.
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