Jailed Amritpal Singh and Engineer Rashid Take Oath as Lok Sabha MPs

Historical Context: The Lok Sabha, the lower house of India’s Parliament, has seen various members with controversial backgrounds. The inclusion of individuals with criminal charges is not unprecedented, reflecting the complex interplay between politics and law in India. The National Security Act (NSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) are stringent laws used to detain individuals deemed a threat to national security. The Khalistan movement, advocating for a separate Sikh state, has historical roots dating back to the 1980s, with figures like Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale becoming symbolic. Similarly, the Kashmir conflict has seen various leaders and activists, including Sheikh Abdul Rashid, embroiled in legal and political battles.

Article: NEW DELHI: Pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh and jailed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid were sworn in as Members of Parliament (MPs) on Friday under heavy security in the Parliament complex. Both Amritpal and Rashid, who are incarcerated under different charges, took their oaths as newly-elected Independents after winning in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Singh is in Assam’s Dibrugarh prison, while Rashid is held at Delhi’s Tihar jail.

Amritpal, who won from Khadoor Sahib in Punjab, and Rashid, who secured a seat from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, could not take their oaths with other newly elected MPs on June 24 and 25 due to their incarceration. Both men were brought to the Parliament by security personnel earlier in the morning. A source indicated that “the MPs-elect took oath in the chamber of the Lok Sabha speaker after completing formalities.”

For the oath-taking, Rashid received a two-hour custody parole excluding travel time from Tihar to Parliament. Amritpal, starting on July 5, was granted a four-day custody parole to account for travel from Assam to Delhi and back. Their parole orders specified, “During their period of temporary release, they can neither speak to or address the media on any issue or make any statements. Their family members also cannot make a statement in any form of media.”

While in Delhi, Amritpal, a Khalistani sympathizer and head of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit, was permitted to meet his family. Rashid’s family was only allowed to attend his oath-taking ceremony. Amritpal is held for offenses under the National Security Act and has garnered attention for his radical activities, including an incident in February where he clashed with police in an attempt to free an aide. Rashid has been in custody since 2017 after being implicated in a terror funding case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Sheikh Abdul Rashid’s parole was granted by a court in Delhi, while Singh’s parole came from the district magistrate of Amritsar, where he was arrested in April 2023. Both Amritpal and Rashid were escorted at all times by security personnel during their parole periods. Authorities directed the Delhi Police and Punjab Police to coordinate with the secretary general of the Lok Sabha to ensure procedures inside the Parliament complex were strictly adhered to.

Rashid, a former MLA, became linked to the investigation involving Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested for allegedly funding terrorist groups and separatists in Kashmir. This case also implicated Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin. Malik, who pleaded guilty to the charges, received a life sentence from a trial court in 2022. Amritpal Singh, in his efforts to project himself in line with the late Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, is also held under the National Security Act along with nine associates.

The events surrounding the oaths of Singh and Rashid brought significant security measures and highlighted the contentious issues related to their criminal accusations and political positions.

Summary:

• Amritpal Singh and Sheikh Abdul Rashid, both jailed, took oaths as Lok Sabha MPs.
• Singh is in Assam’s Dibrugarh prison; Rashid is in Delhi’s Tihar jail.
• Both won as Independents in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
• Singh and Rashid were granted temporary parole for the oath-taking ceremony.
• Singh is held under the National Security Act; Rashid under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
• Singh is a pro-Khalistan preacher; Rashid is linked to a terror funding case.
• Significant security measures were in place during their oath-taking.
• The events highlight the intersection of criminal charges and political roles in India.