Amritpal Singh Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Amritpal Singh

• Amritpal Singh is an Indian activist who became the second leader of ‘Waris Punjab De,’ an organisation formed by Deep Sidhu with the aim to fight for social justice and preserve the rights and culture of Punjab, in 2022. Amritpal was appointed as the Chief of Waris Punjab De following the death of the Indian actor, barrister, and activist Deep Sidhu in a road accident.

• Amritpal Singh, after completing his studies till class 10th, enrolled himself on a polytechnic course in Kapurthala, Punjab; however, he did not complete the course.

• In 2012, Amritpal shaved his beard, cut his hair, and moved to Dubai, where he joined his family’s transport business, Sandhu Cargo Transport company.

• Following the death of Deep Sidhu, a Punjabi actor-turned-activist and the founder of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ organisation, in a road accident near Sonepat on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal highway on 15 February 2022, Amritpal Singh was appointed as the leader of the organisation.

• On 20 August 2022, he returned to India from Dubai to take over the charge of Waris Punjab De. It is claimed that Amritpal never met Deep Sidhu, but they interacted through social media only. ^[9]The Quint

•  Amritpal’s uncle Harjit Singh, in an interview, talked about Amritpal’s return to Punjab from Dubai and revealed that when Amritpal, along with his friends, decided to cut his hair, his family was disappointed with his decision as in Sikhism, there is a practice of keeping long uncut hair. Amritpal, however, took Amrit (holy water) after returning to his village in Punjab from Dubai and pledged to follow Sikhism in the right manner. Amritpal’s uncle Harjit Singh talked about this in the interview and said,
  

  Our family is very religious. When Amritpal drifted away from it, we didn’t like it. He told us that he and another boy, his classmate, had planned to cut their hair. While Amritpal cut his hair, that boy ran away. We are very happy that he has taken Amrit (holy water) now.” ^[10]ThePrint

  

  Amritpal Singh’s look before returning to Punjab from Dubai

• In an interview, Amritpal Singh revealed that initially, he used to be aggressive but returning to his village in Punjab and adapting to the culture and teaching of Sikhism made him a completely changed man with a calm nature. Amritpal  Singh said,
  

  I used to be aggressive. Now I don’t hold grudges. If someone criticises me, that doesn’t depress me anymore. I have a very large vision.” ^[11]ThePrint

• On 29 September 2022, Amritpal Singh was declared the chief of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ group at the ‘Dastarbandi’ (turban-tying ceremony), the one-year anniversary of the founding of the organisation.

• During his leadership at the ‘Waris Punjab De’ organisation, Amritpal led many events including an event organised in the native village of slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the installation of ‘Waris Punjab De’ in which he addressed the gathering and asked them not to feel independent unless they take revenge for Bhindranwale’s killing. He even tried instigating communal tension by calling Sikhs ‘slaves’ of Hindus and promoting the ‘Sikh rule’ while addressing people at the event in Roda village. Amritpal said,
  

  We all (Punjabis) are still slaves. Those who think we are ‘azad’ (free), should consult a doctor. We have to fight for freedom. Our waters are being looted. Our Guru is being disrespected. Those who indulge in sacrilege, will not be handed over to police or sent to courts. Ohda sodha laguga (we will punish them).” ^[12]The Indian Express

• Many media outlets and people compare his traditional dress and demeanour to Bhindranwale and often mention him as ‘Bhindranwale 2.0.’ He has posed holding an arrow, appearing to imitate the slain leader Bhindranwale.
  

  A poster of Amritpal Singh and Bhindranwale outside the Rode gurdwara, which is built at the site where Bhindranwale was born

• In 2022, the leader of the Waris Punjab De organisation Amritpal Singh initiated an anti-drug campaign with the aim of making Punjab a drug-free state. He was credited for this initiative by various people. Amritpal, in 2022, attended an event named ‘Amrit Sanchar,’ the initiation rite introduced by Guru Gobind Singh when he founded the Khalsa in 1699, organised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) at Akal Takht Gurudwara in Punjab. In an interview, he expressed his thoughts on making Punjab a drug-free state and said that the consumption of drugs could be minimised with the help of Amrit Sanchar and promoting Sikhism.

• Amritpal Singh initiated the ‘Amrit Parchaar’ campaign to encourage people to take Amrit (holy water) and become part of Khalsa Sikhs. The campaign was first organised in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, where around 647 people took Amrit and became part of Khalsa Sikhs. Later, the campaign was held in Amritsar, making around 1,027 Sikhs and Hindus come across India to take Amritpan and become Khalsa Sikhs. Another campaign started by Amritpal was the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ campaign, where 927 Sikhs, Hindus, and Christians in Anandpur Sahib took Amrit, making headlines in newspapers; the Haryana Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee under the Haryana Government supported Amritpal Singh’s campaign.

• On 23 November 2022, the ‘Waris Punjab De’ organisation started the ‘Khalsa Vehir’ campaign to promote anti-drug, Amrit Parchaar, and Ghar Wapsi campaigns. Amritpal, along with the members of the organisation, visited Akal Takht gurdwara in Amritsar, Punjab, passing through the villages and cities of Anandpur Sahib, Nawanshahr, Macchiwara, Ludhiana, Phillaur, Phagwara, Jalandhar, Nakodar, Sultanpur Lodhi, Zira, Harike and Amritsar.

• According to Deep Sidhu’s brother Mandeep Sidhu, Amritpal Singh took over the leadership of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ organisation illegally. In an interview, Mandeep Singh claimed that Deep Sidhu was not friends with Amritpal, and he somewhere disliked him. Mandeep added that Deep had blocked Amritpal’s number. While talking about this in an interview, Mandeep Singh said,
  

  An impression is being given that Deep Sidhu had groomed Amritpal and our family is a party to the decision to appoint Amritpal as the head. However, this is not true. In fact, Deep never talked about Amritpal and seemed he disliked him. He had blocked Amritpal’s phone for 15 days in January and February.” ^[13]The Tribune

• According to Amritpal Singh, he could cite the tales of historical struggles and injustices against Sikhs despite no formal religious education. ^[14]ThePrint

• Amritpal, in an interview, talked about his inspiration and revealed that he looks up to Bhindranwale, a militant and leader of the Sikh organization ‘Damdami Taksal’ and the protagonist of the Khalistan movement, as his “inspiration.” He added that he would walk on the path shown by Bhindranwale and be like him. While talking about his inspiration in the interview, Amritpal said,
  

  Bhindranwale is my inspiration. I will walk the path shown by him. I want to be like him because that’s what every Sikh wants, but I am not copying him. I am not even equal to dust of his feet.” ^[15]Financial Express