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Amritpal Singh Sandhu (born 1993) is the 2nd and current leader of the Punjabi-centric social organisation, Waris Panjab De.

Leadership (2022–present)

Inauguration

Subsequent to the sudden death of Deep Sidhu, a letter was published by Waris Panjab De on 4 March 2022 declaring Amritpal Singh Sandhu as the organisation's leader. Upon Singh's return to Punjab from Dubai, an official inauguration ceremony was held on 29 September 2022 at Rode in Moga, the native village of the former Jathedar of Damdami Taksal, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He took Amrit in Anandpur Sahib after being elected.

Amrit Parchaar campaigns

In Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan; Singh's first Amrit Parchaar campaign took place, where around 647 persons took Amrit and became part of Khalsa Sikhs. Next he started a 'Ghar-Wapsi Campaign' where 927 Sikhs, Hindus and Christians in Anandpur Sahib took Amrit making headlines on newspapers, the Haryana Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee under the Haryana Government gave support to him. Afterwards he held another large Amrit Parchaar Campaign in Amritsar where 1027 Sikhs and Hindus from across India took Amritpan to became Khalsa Sikhs Sikhism.

On November 23, the 'Waris Punjab de' organization is starting a 'Khalsa Vehir' (anti-drug, Amrit Parchaar and Ghar Wapsi campaign). He will reach the Sri Akal Takht Sahib at 9 am on 23 November 2022. It would pass through the villages and cities of Anandpur Sahib, Nawanshahr, Macchiwara, Ludhiana, Phillaur, Phagwara, Jalandhar, Nakodar, Sultanpur Lodhi, Zira, Harike and Amritsar. Another larger one is being planned which will going from Anandpur Sahib to Bharatpur, Rajasthan although it has not been confirmed as of yet.

Anti-drug campaign and Khalsa Vaheer

Singh has started an anti-drug campaign in response to the rising issue of drug addiction in Punjab. He has been credited with helping 754 youths recover from drug addiction and become initiated Sikhs. "Amrit Sanchar will result in de-addiction of youngsters and the entire state will be free from drugs", said Singh. Some Punjabi politicians, including Bikram Majithia and Ravneet Bittu, criticized Singh's campaign. His second-in command is Virender Singh, previously named Sham Gujjar, who is an ex-drug addict, ex-fugitive and ex-Hindu who Singh rehabilitated in his centre in Jallupur Khera.

Sudhir Suri murder

In the aftermath of the murder of Sudhir Suri, Amritpal Singh was placed under house arrest as a precautionary measure in anticipation of retaliatory violence against him, although Singh had no prior connection with Suri nor with the murder. His name was featured in the case although both him, the killer and the Golak Punjab Mandir Committee all states that he had nothing to do with the case at all. Suri had made inflammatory remarks against Sikhs, including Sikh women, and on occasion made threats to conduct a genocide against Sikhs, making references to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. After being released from house arrest, Singh did an Amrit Parchaar campaign in Haryana.

Controversiess

In October 2022, the Christian community staged an hour-long protest against Amritpal at PAP Chowk for his distasteful remarks about Jesus Christ and hurting religious sentiments. Amritpal in one of his speeches said that "Jesus who could not save himself, how he will save everyone else?". The protestors demanded that an FIR should be lodged against him under 295A of the IPC for hurting our religious sentiments and trying to disturb communal harmony.

On October 2, 2022, The president of the Shiv Sena (Thackeray), Punjab youth wing held a press conference and urged the state government to arrest Amritpal for his "seditious activities". The president of Shiv Sena, Punjab in the press conference said that "He dresses like Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale and always surrounds himself with armed men. He often talks about reviving the Khalistani movement." He further added that "He (Amritpal) does not talk about preaching Sikhism to which, in any case, we have absolutely no objection. The problem is that he talks about forming a separate Sikh state on the lines of what Bhindrwala wanted." A few days after on October 7, His Twitter account was withheld in India for his radical remarks and pro-Khalistani tweets. The Ministry of Home Affairs also notified the state government to remain vigilant over the activities of Amritpal.

References

1. Menon, Aditya (6 October 2022). "Amritpal Singh: How a 29-Year-Old From Dubai Rose Dramatically in Sikh Politics". The Quint. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
2. "Deep Sidhu, actor-activist accused in Red Fort violence, dies in car crash". The Indian Express. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
3. Menon, Aditya (15 February 2022). "Deep Sidhu Dies in Accident: He Wanted Farmers Protest To Lead to Larger Change". TheQuint. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
4. Goyal, Divya (30 September 2022). "Khalistan on lips, Bhindranwale follower takes charge of Deep Sidhu's outfit, actor's kin say no link". Indian Express. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
5. "Preacher, 'influencer', ideologue: Meet Amritpal Singh, head of Waris Punjab De". The Indian Express. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
6. Jaskaran Singh (31 October 2022). "Haryana: HSGMC president praises Amritpal Singh for motivating youth to get initiated at Akal Takht | Gurgaon News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
7. Matharu, Sonal (25 October 2022). "Fiery orator, 'Bhindranwale 2.0' — who's Amritpal Singh, new 'head' of Deep Sidhu's Waris Punjab De". ThePrint. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
8. Service, Tribune News. "Amritpal Singh: Amrit Sanchar to focus on 'de-addiction' of youth". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
9. Service, Tribune News. "Sudhir Suri murder case: Prime suspect Sandeep Singh's police remand extended". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
10. "Sudhir Suri: A self-styled Hindu leader who was no stranger to controversies". Hindustan Times. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
11. "'Sikh preacher' Amritpal Singh briefly put under house arrest". The Indian Express. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
12. "Day after house arrest, Sikh 'preacher' Amritpal allowed to leave for Haryana". The Indian Express. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
13. "Amritpal Singh is under house arrest by Punjab Police - Patiala Politics". patialapolitics.com. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
14. "Christians protest against Sikh 'preacher' Amritpal Singh for 'hurting religious sentiments', urge govt to book him". The Indian Express. 18 October 2022.
15. "What Amritpal Singh said? Christian community stage protest in Jalandhar over Waris Punjab De chief's controversial comment". True Scoop News.
16. Service, Tribune News. "Christians demand arrest of Sikh activist Amritpal Singh, lodge protest at Jalandhar's PAP Chowk". Tribuneindia News Service.
17. "अमृतपाल सिंह के विवादित बयान को लेकर इसाई समुदाय ने खोला मोर्चा, दी ये चेतावनी". punjabkesari. 14 October 2022.
18. "ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਤੇ ਭੜਕਿਆ ਈਸਾਈ ਭਾਈਚਾਰਾ, ਰੱਜ ਕੇ ਭੜਾਸ ਕੱਢਦਿਆਂ ਕਹੀ ਇਹ ਗੱਲ". jagbani. 17 October 2022.
19. Service, Tribune News. "Govt must arrest radical speaker Amritpal Singh, demands Shiv Sena". Tribuneindia News Service.
20. "Preacher, 'influencer', ideologue: Meet Amritpal Singh, head of Waris Punjab De". The Indian Express. 8 October 2022.
21. "Amritpal Singh Twitter account suspended: Is government planning some big move against the Waris Punjab De Chief?". True Scoop News.

• 1993 births
• Living people
• People from Amritsar district