| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Amritpal Singh Sandhu [1]ThePrint |
| Other name(s) | • Amritpal Singh Bakalawale • Amritpal Singh Khalsa • Bhai Amritpal Singh |
| Profession | Activist |
| Famous for | Being the Chief of Waris Panjab De organization |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters– 180 cm in meters– 1.80 m in feet & inches– 5’ 11” |
| Weight (approx.) | in kilograms– 75 kg in pounds– 165 lbs |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 17 January 1993 (Sunday) |
| Age (as of 2023) | 30 Years |
| Birthplace | Jallupur Khera village in Baba Bakala tehsil of Amritsar district in Punjab |
| Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
| Nationality | Indian |
| College/University | Lord Krishna Polytechnic College, Kapurthala, Punjab |
| Educational Qualification | Amritpal Singh studied till class 10th. According to some sources, including his LinkedIn account, he holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree; however, some sources claim he is a dropout of an engineering course. [2]The Free Press Journal |
| Religion/Religious Views | Sikhism [3]ThePrint
“Punjab is for Punjabis” |
| Controversies | • House Arrest Under Sudhir Suri’s Murder Case: Reportedly, Amritpal Singh was briefly put under house arrest by police at Singhawala village in Moga, Punjab after his name cropped up in the murder case of Sudhir Suri, who was shot dead by 31-year-old Sandeep Singh alias Sunny outside Gopal Mandir in Amritsar, Punjab while protesting against the allegedly found Hindu idols in the garbage on the roadside. According to some reports, Surdhir’s family held Amritpal responsible for the murder following which the police officials kept him house arrested; reportedly, around nine CCTV cameras were placed on the lanes connecting his two houses in the village to keep an eye on him. [5]ThePrint
• Remarks Against Jesus Christ: In 2022, the Christian community protested for four hours against Amritpal Singh at PAP Chowk in Jalandhar, Punjab for hurting religious sentiments by making objectionable comments against Jesus Crist. Amritpal Singh, while addressing people at one of his events, said, • Follower of Bhindranwala: Reportedly, Honey Mahajan, the President of Shiv Sena, on 2 October 2022, urged the government to arrest Amritpal Singh for his ‘seditious activities’ and promoting the idea of forming a separate Sikh state just like the militant leader of the Sikh organization Damdami Taksal Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. On 7 October 2022, Amritpal Singh’s Twitter account was banned for his remarks on pro-Khalistani tweets; moreover, the Ministry of Home Affairs instructed the state government to keep an eye on Amritpal’s activities. • Destroying the Properties of a Gurudwara: In December 2022, the members of the Waris Punjab De group led by Amritpal Singh, while visiting various gurudwaras, set fire to the furniture of a gurdwara in Biharipur village in protest against the seating arrangement after Amritpal questioned the practice of keeping chair in a room where the holy book was kept. He argued with the people of the Gurdwara management committee and said that it was against Sikh Rehat Maryada, which defines the code of conduct and conventions for Sikhism. • Removed from Instagram: After being banned from Twitter, Amritpal Singh’s Instagram account was earased from worldwide in December 2022 for unknown reasons. • On the run: On 18 March 2023, Punjab police launched a crackdown against Amritpal Singh and his supporters and arrested many persons related to Waris Punjab De (WPD); however, Amritpla Singh was reported to be at large following which a massive statewide Cordon and Search Operations (CASO) was launched by the police and paramilitary forces. According to the police, nine weapons, including one .315 bore rifle, seven rifles of 12 bore, one revolver, and 373 live cartridges of different caliber were recovered during the statewide operation. [6]The Tribune • NSA invoked On 21 March 2023, the Punjab government told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the National Security Act has been invoked against absconding Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh. [7]Hindustan Times • Arrest in Punjab: On 23 April 2023, Amritpal Singh was nabbed by Punjab Police at a gurudwara situated in Rode village of Moga district in Punjab. According to sources, Amritpal, before his arrest, delivered a speech to his followers at the same gurudwara, where he claimed that all the accusations made against him were false and he was resolved to contest each one of them. [8]The Quint Amritpal Singh, at the gurudwara, said, |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Marriage Date | 10 February 2023 |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | Kirandeep Kaur (physiotherapist) |
| Parents | Father- Tarsem Singh Mother- Balwinder Kaur |
| Siblings | He has twin sisters and an elder brother. |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Amritpal Singh
- In 2022, Amritpal Singh, an Indian activist, assumed the role of Chief for Waris Punjab De, an organization founded by Deep Sidhu. The organization’s purpose is to advocate for social justice and protect Punjab’s rights and cultural heritage. Amritpal’s appointment as leader came after Deep Sidhu, a renowned Indian actor, barrister, and activist, tragically passed away in a road accident.
- After finishing his studies up to the 10th grade, Amritpal Singh decided to pursue a polytechnic course in Kapurthala, Punjab. Unfortunately, he did not successfully complete the course.
- Amritpal made significant changes in 2012 as he decided to shave his beard, trim his hair, and relocate to Dubai. There, he became a part of his family’s business, Sandhu Cargo Transport company.
- After the passing of Deep Sidhu, a Punjabi actor-turned-activist and the founder of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ organization, due to a road accident near Sonepat on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal highway on February 15, 2022, Amritpal Singh has been designated as the new leader of the organization.
- It is stated that on August 20, 2022, he came back to India from Dubai to assume control of Waris Punjab De. Although Amritpal supposedly never had a face-to-face meeting with Deep Sidhu, their interaction was limited to social media. [9]
- During an interview, Harjit Singh, the uncle of Amritpal, discussed Amritpal’s decision to return to Punjab from Dubai and the subsequent revelation that he had chosen to cut his hair, disappointing his family due to the Sikh practice of keeping long uncut hair. However, upon his return to the village, Amritpal took Amrit (holy water) and made a commitment to follow Sikhism properly. Harjit Singh expressed his family’s strong religious beliefs and their initial disappointment when Amritpal deviated from them. He also mentioned that Amritpal had planned to trim his hair with a classmate, but only Amritpal followed through while the other boy fled. Harjit Singh concluded by stating their joy at Amritpal’s decision to embrace Amrit (holy water). Prior to his return from Dubai, Amritpal Singh’s appearance was evaluated.
- During an interview, Amritpal Singh shared that he was once characterized by aggression. However, upon returning to his village in Punjab and embracing the teachings and culture of Sikhism, he underwent a profound transformation, becoming a serene individual. Amritpal Singh expressed, “In the past, my nature was aggressive, but I have since learned to release grudges. Criticism no longer affects me negatively, as I have gained a wider outlook and a positive mindset.” [11]
- Amritpal Singh was announced as the leader of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ group during the ‘Dastarbandi’ event on September 29, 2022, which marked the first year since the organization’s establishment.
- Amritpal, during his leadership at the ‘Waris Punjab De’ organization, organized various events, including one in the hometown of slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the establishment of ‘Waris Punjab De.’ During this event, he delivered a speech urging the attendees to seek vengeance for Bhindranwale’s killing and fostering communal tension by portraying Sikhs as subservient to Hindus and advocating for a ‘Sikh rule’ in the Roda village. Amritpal emphasized that despite popular beliefs about our freedom, Punjabis still remain oppressed. He stressed the importance of continuing our fight for liberation, as our valuable resources are being unjustly taken away and our spiritual leaders are being disrespected. Amritpal made it clear that those who commit sacrilege will not be handed over to the authorities but will face our own form of punishment.
- Amritpal Singh is frequently compared to Bhindranwale by various media outlets and individuals, highlighting his traditional attire and demeanor. Often referred to as ‘Bhindranwale 2.0,’ he has been seen posing with an arrow, seemingly emulating the deceased leader. The Rode gurdwara, located at Bhindranwale’s birthplace, proudly showcases a poster that features Amritpal Singh alongside Bhindranwale.
- Amritpal Singh, the leader of the Waris Punjab De organization, took the initiative in 2022 to launch an anti-drug campaign with the goal of eradicating drug use in Punjab. Many individuals credited him for his efforts in this campaign. In the same year, Amritpal attended an event called ‘Amrit Sanchar,’ which is a traditional ceremony introduced by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 when he established the Khalsa. This event was organized by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) at the Akal Takht Gurudwara in Punjab. During an interview, Amritpal shared his belief that by promoting Sikhism and incorporating the Amrit Sanchar ceremony, drug consumption in Punjab could be significantly reduced.
- Amritpal Singh initiated a campaign known as ‘Amrit Parchaar’ with the aim of encouraging individuals to embrace Amrit (holy water) and join the Khalsa Sikhs community. The campaign was initially organized in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, resulting in approximately 647 individuals partaking in the Amrit ceremony and becoming Khalsa Sikhs. Subsequently, the campaign was extended to Amritsar, attracting around 1,027 Sikhs and Hindus from various parts of India who took Amrit and embraced Khalsa Sikhism. Amritpal also launched the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ campaign, which garnered significant attention in newspapers when 927 Sikhs, Hindus, and Christians in Anandpur Sahib took Amrit. The Haryana Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee, under the Haryana Government’s support, endorsed Amritpal Singh’s campaign.
- The ‘Waris Punjab De’ organization initiated the ‘Khalsa Vehir’ campaign on 23 November 2022 to promote anti-drug measures, Amrit Parchaar, and Ghar Wapsi campaigns. Amritpal, accompanied by fellow organization members, embarked on a journey that took them from Akal Takht gurdwara in Amritsar, Punjab, passing through various villages and cities including Anandpur Sahib, Nawanshahr, Macchiwara, Ludhiana, Phillaur, Phagwara, Jalandhar, Nakodar, Sultanpur Lodhi, Zira, Harike, and finally reaching Amritsar.
- Deep Sidhu’s brother, Mandeep Sidhu, alleged that Amritpal Singh unlawfully assumed leadership of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ organization. During an interview, Mandeep stated that Deep Sidhu and Amritpal were not friends and there was some level of aversion between them. Mandeep further revealed that Deep had blocked Amritpal’s contact number. In the interview, Mandeep clarified that the notion of Deep grooming Amritpal and our family supporting his appointment as leader was untrue. In reality, Deep never mentioned Amritpal and it appeared that he held animosity towards him. Deep had even blocked Amritpal’s phone for a total of 15 days in January and February.
- Despite lacking formal religious education, Amritpal Singh asserts that he is able to recount the stories of historical struggles and injustices faced by Sikhs.
- During an interview, Amritpal discussed his source of inspiration and expressed admiration for Bhindranwale, a militant and leader of the Sikh organization ‘Damdami Taksal’ and the central figure in the Khalistan movement. Amritpal shared that he aspires to follow the path shown by Bhindranwale and to become like him. In the interview, Amritpal stated that Bhindranwale serves as his guiding inspiration, leading him towards a path he aims to pursue. He also mentioned that he aspires to emulate Bhindranwale, as many Sikhs do, but humbly acknowledged that he is not worthy of being compared to even the dust beneath Bhindranwale’s feet.
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