Jailed Punjab MP Amritpal’s father slams Mann government for extending his son’s detention under NSA

Jailed radical preacher Amritpal Singh’s father Tarsem Singh on Sunday slammed the AAP-led Punjab government for extending his son’s detention under the National Security Act, alleging it wanted to keep the Khadoor Sahib MP behind bars as it considers him a “threat” in the political space.

Amritpal (32) is lodged in Assam’s Dibrugarh jail. He was detained under the NSA following his arrest on April 23, 2023. Following a proposal received from the Senior Superintendent of Police of Amritsar Rural, the Amritsar district magistrate issued a fresh order of Amritpal’s detention on April 17. The Punjab government extended his detention under the NSA for another year.

Speaking to the media in Amritsar, Tarsem strongly condemned the extension of Amritpal’s detention, alleging the state government has “thrown all rules to the wind”. Detaining Amritpal under the NSA for the third time is a “blot on democracy”, he alleged.

He alleged that the state government was “hand-in glove” with the Centre in issuing the fresh order of Amritpal’s detention under the NSA.

Asked about the Punjab government’s move of extending Amritpal’s detention, Singh said they are feeling “threatened” with his son coming into politics.

Amritpal, who contested the Lok Sabha polls held last year as an Independent candidate, was elected as a Member of Parliament from Khadoor Sahib. Tarsem Singh said Amritpal had fought elections and wanted to raise the people’s issues but he was being stopped from doing so. The Punjab government has “failed” on all fronts, he alleged.