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Security officials keeping a close watch as Amritpal Singh floats new party in Punjab

Under the veneer of a progressive agenda, will the secessionist ideology continue to be propagated?

Amritpal Singh | AP

Amritpal Singh’s father Tarsem Singh is a mild-mannered man whose approach obfuscates the hard-lined radical ideology of Waris Punjab De, an outfit helmed by his jailed son who has now made his political debut as a leader of the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De).

Joined by hardliners and supporters, Tarsem Singh attended the first political conference in Muktsar. The new party also passed a few resolutions. While the political arena in Punjab is abuzz with speculation of Amritpal’s party attempting to capture the panthic space where the Akali Dal’s traditional hold is shrinking, all eyes are also on the issues it will flag to reach out to the public and garner support on any deliverables it has to offer.

Amritpal’s controversial entry into the political space began with certain sharp and seemingly social projections that had a resonance especially among youngsters in Punjab, for example, the fight against drugs, joblessness, and leading a disciplined life. The new party is expected to follow a similar approach with a focus on de-addiction strategies, rediscovering roots and bringing about a societal change where the youth of Punjab feel empowered. But under the veneer of a progressive agenda, will a secessionist ideology continue to be an undercurrent is something the security establishment in Punjab will have to closely keep an eye on if it does not want a repeat of protests and movements that gave Amritpal infamy within six months of taking over Waris Punjab De in 2023.  

Besides being accused of propagating the idea of a separate Khalistan state, the deaddiction centres run by Amritpal and his supporters had come under a cloud as they operated in the grey with police officials claiming non-scientific methods were adopted to veer them away from drugs. Punjab government took steps to shut down these centres but concerns continued over alleged attempts being made to subvert laws and create a parallel system that could fill the gaps in governance. Amritpal was arrested under the National Security Act in April 2023 after a manhunt by the Punjab police.

Once again, it is a mix of the same worries that the political arena in Punjab is witnessing as Amritpal enters local politics. “There is a space for dissent, social work and engaging civil society. But if attempts are made to create an alternate system in contravention of the laws of the land, then it is a matter of concern,” said a senior security official.

It may be too early to say, but both political and security watchers in Punjab are keenly observing the entry of the new Waris Punjab De.