Panjab Extends MP Amritpal Singh's NSA Detention by 1 Year

The Panjab government has extended the detention of Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament Amritpal Singh under the National Security Act (NSA) by another year. This would amount to a third year detention for the Waris Punjab De chief under NSA and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act charges. NSA implemented in 1980 provides for no more than a twelve-month detention; it was amended in May 1984 for Panjab, allowing a twenty-four month detention. The third year cannot be added; yet, the govt. is going ahead with it even though no law provides for it. The govt. has decided not to extend the detention of Amritpal’s nine associates, who were brought back from Dibrugarh jail in Assam recently to face trial for laying siege to Ajnala police station in 2023. Amritpal's father Tarsem Singh, who launched the political party Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) in January 2025, condemned the extension to Amritpal's detention, alleging the state government has 'thrown all rules to the wind' and further said the state govt. was 'hand-in glove' with the union govt. Lawyer Rajvinder Singh Bains, representing Amritpal said, ‘The police have no new material evidence on Amritpal. All they have is what other people are posting on social media about Amritpal. That cannot be considered material evidence against the accused.’ Meanwhile, Sukhbir Singh Badal being chosen again as president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party for trying to hijack Sikh institutions drew response from former Jathedar (leader) of Takht (Throne) Damdama Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh. He said Badal has ‘lost the faith’ of the Sikh community, who will not believe his claims as the SAD has ‘not followed’ the Akal Takht’s (Eternal Throne; AT) directives. Former AT Jathedar Raghbir Singh remains the head granthi (reciter) of Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) while former Takht Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Sultan Singh is still one of its granthis. Neither has reacted to Badal’s claims (earlier coverage).