Amritsar/Chandigarh: On July 5th, when Amritpal Singh took oath of allegiance to the Indian Constitution as a Member of the Indian Parliament, Bibi Balwinder Kaur, Amritpal Singh’s mother, addressed the media at Jallukhera village. She, interalia, said, “Anybody may say anything, but he (Amritpal Singh) is not a Khalistani supporter.” She urged that now, with Amritpal Singh having taken an oath on the Indian Constitution, such allegations should cease.
Bibi Balwinder Kaur, mother of Amritpal Singh | July 5, 2024
Notably, Amritpal Singh, Member of Parliament from Khadoor Sahib, Punjab, has been detained under the National Security Act (NSA) and is currently held in Dibrugarh jail in Assam.
Controversy and Backlash
Bibi Balwinder Kaur’s statement triggered sharp reactions from various quarters, especially within the Sikh community. Many Sikh netizens criticized her for the remarks.
Attempted Clarification and Fallout
Facing backlash, Bibi Balwinder Kaur attempted to retract her statement, blaming the media for misinterpreting her words.
Political Reaction
Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (Mann), led by former MP Simranjit Singh Mann, responded with disappointment. In a written statement, Mann expressed, “It is sad and unfortunate to see that after their election victories, Sarabjit Singh Khalsa (MP from Faridkot) and Amritpal Singh’s mother, Balwinder Kaur, have denied any links to Khalistan.”
Confusion over Amritpal Singh’s “Written Statement”
Meanwhile, a statement purportedly from Amritpal Singh appeared on a Twitter handle, asserting that while he believes his mother’s statement was innocent, such remarks should not have been made by anyone from his family or associated with him. The purported statement attributed to Amritpal Singh on social media raises doubts about its authenticity. Given Amritpal Singh’s current detention in Dibrugarh jail, his ability to communicate directly through social media platforms is severely limited. The statement, appearing to be in the first person as if authored by Amritpal Singh himself, prompts skepticism, particularly in light of his incarceration.
Statement posted on Twitter which is said to be made by Amritpal Singh | Screenshot taken on 7 July 2024 at 5:48 PM (Amritsar Time)
Family’s Earlier Stance for Statements on behalf of Amritpal Singh
Previously, on 11 June Amritpal Singh’s family had stated in a press conference that only his parents and Bibi Paramjit Kaur Khalra were the only authorized persons to issue statements on his behalf while he remains incarcerated.