New York| 1 August 2025 — The Indian government’s treatment of Amritpal Singh, a popularly elected Sikh Member of Parliament and spiritual reformer, raises serious questions about the country's approach to minorities, democracy, and freedom of speech.
Amritpal Singh, elected with a landslide from Khadoor Sahib, remains in solitary detention under the draconian National Security Act (NSA)—not because of any proven crime, but because of the ideas he represents: a drug-free Punjab, Sikh self-determination, and a fearless demand for justice.
A Voice for the Sikhs
Amritpal Singh rose to prominence through Waris Punjab De, a social movement focused on liberating Punjab from drugs, raising awareness about Sikh history, and restoring Khalsa discipline among the youth. In a state grappling with substance abuse and political corruption, he became a beacon for thousands seeking revival of Sikh values.
But his outspokenness about Sikh sovereignty, Delhi’s exploitation of Punjab, and the repression of dissent placed a target on his back. The same state that celebrates democracy could not tolerate a young Sikh leader who speaks unapologetically for his community.
Democracy for Whom?
Despite being elected as MP by nearly 2 lakh votes, Amritpal Singh continues to be imprisoned without trial. No concrete charges. No public hearing. No due process. Meanwhile, dozens of Hindu MPs and ministers with serious criminal charges—murder, rape, incitement—continue to sit in Parliament or roam free.
According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), nearly 43% of MPs in India’s Parliament face criminal cases, many involving grave offences. Yet, they’re celebrated, re-elected, and protected. But when a Sikh man calls for the empowerment of his people—he’s labeled a "threat to national security."
Two Justice Systems
Hindu mobs who lynch Muslims on suspicion of beef possession walk free.
Leaders who incited Delhi riots in 2020, openly threatening violence, were never arrested.
Yogi Adityanath, now Chief Minister of UP, once openly called for revenge against minorities—and still governs.
But Amritpal Singh, a man with no criminal conviction, who never fired a bullet or looted a shop, is held in solitary confinement in a faraway prison in Assam. This is not law and order—it’s selective state repression.
A War on Sikh Identity
The 2023 crackdown on Amritpal's supporters saw over 300 Sikhs arrested, many without warrants. Internet was shut down across Punjab for days. Homes were raided. Gurdwaras were watched. This wasn’t a police operation; it was a state of emergency against Sikh identity.
During this period, Punjab resembled occupied territory—more than 80,000 police personnel were deployed, helicopters circled villages, and innocent men were detained simply for wearing bana (traditional Sikh dress) or having association with the movement.
SGPC, Sikh Voters, and Human Rights Voices Speak
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)—the highest Sikh religious authority—has demanded Amritpal’s release, reminding the Indian government that democracy means respecting public mandate, not punishing it.
International human rights organizations have also raised red flags. Detaining an elected leader under NSA, without charges, and placing him 3,000 km from his home is a clear violation of UN human rights norms.
Even Amritpal Singh's critics agree—if India is truly a democracy, let the courts decide his guilt or innocence. Why is the government so afraid of letting him speak?
The Sikh Struggle Isn’t New
From the Genocide of 1984, to blacklists, disappearances, and now digital censorship, the Indian state has repeatedly treated Sikhs as second-class citizens when they speak politically. Sikh resistance is branded as extremism, while real extremism against minorities is mainstreamed in Indian politics.
This isn’t about Amritpal alone—it’s about the right of a minority to define its own future, speak its truth, and participate in politics without fear of persecution.
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Final Word: A Test for India
India claims to be the world’s largest democracy. But today, a young Sikh man who gave up luxury in Dubai to serve his Panth is caged, isolated, and silenced—while criminals in saffron robes shape policy.
The real question is not why Amritpal Singh is detained, but why a so-called democratic government fears him so deeply. Is it because his ideas resonate? Because he unites people? Or because he refuses to bow down?