Khanna urges Centre to secure return of farmer held in Pak

Former MP Avinash Rai Khanna has written to the Ministry of External Affairs, seeking the immediate repatriation of farmer Amritpal Singh, who reportedly completed his sentence in Pakistan after inadvertently crossing the border earlier this year.

According to Khanna’s office representative Jyoti Kumar Jolly said the former parliamentarian acted swiftly after receiving information about the case and requested External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to ensure Amritpal’s release without delay.

Amritpal, a resident of Punjab, had accidentally entered the Pakistani territory in June while working in the fields near the border. Khanna had earlier raised the matter with the ministry when Singh was detained for three months by the Pakistani authorities.

With his sentence now reportedly completed, Khanna has urged the Centre to expedite diplomatic efforts to secure his safe return to India and reunite him with his family.

Khanna emphasised that humanitarian considerations must guide the government’s efforts in such cases and reiterated that citizens who unintentionally cross international boundaries should receive immediate assistance. He expressed confidence that the Ministry of External Affairs would intervene at the earliest to facilitate Amritpal Singh’s homecoming.