'Waris Punjab De' Chief Amritpal Singh Filed Nomination For LS Polls: Punjab Govt To HC

The Punjab Government informed the Punjab & Haryana High Court that it has assisted 'Waris Punjab De'chief Amritpal Singh, who is lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act, in submitting his nomination for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Amritpal Singh, presently held under the National Security Act (NSA), had approached the high court requesting directives to the Punjab government, Centre, and Election Commission either to grant him a seven-day release or to facilitate arrangements for him to file his nomination form to contest the 2024 elections from the Sri Khadoor Sahib Constituency, Live Law reported.

DAG Punjab, Arjun Sheoran told the court: "Two sets of nomination forms and other paperwork were filled in and signed by the detenue on 09.05.2024. The detenue was allowed to meet his proposer and Advocate at Dibrugarh Central Jail on 09.05.2024."

"The Superintendent Central Jail Dibrugarh will administer oath to the detenue as per the provisions of law including Handbook for Candidate, 2023 and issue Certificate for Receipt of Oath and send original form of Oath to Returning Officer, 03- Khadoor Sahab, (Punjab). The oath will be administered as and when a request is made by the detenue after his nomination form is submitted before the Returning Officer," Sheoran added.

Styled after the slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Amritpal Singh was arrested in Moga's Rode village on April 23 last year following an extensive manhunt.

After a confrontation at Ajnala on February 23 the same year, where Amritpal Singh and his supporters clashed with police, he was booked under various criminal charges, including attempting murder and creating public disorder.

The Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, known as a 'Panthic' seat, has nine assembly constituencies. Shiromani Akali Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, and BJP have each nominated candidates, while the Congress has named Kulbir Singh Zira for the seat.

However, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) extended support to Amritpal Singh's candidacy for the Khadoor Sahib seat, resulting in the withdrawal of their candidate from the constituency.