News Analysis India

Tag: Simranjit Singh Mann

  • SAD(A) chief Mann moves court against J-K admin’s order denying him entry

    By PTI

    KATHUA (Jammu): Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann has moved a Jammu and Kashmir court to challenge the administration’s order denying him entry into the Union territory, his lawyer said on Thursday.

    Mann has been sitting on a protest in Lakhanpur for three consecutive nights against the administration’s decision. Thursday is the fourth day of the protest.

    The MP from Sangrur in Punjab was stopped on orders of Kathua District Magistrate Rahul Pandey on Monday evening, leading to the protest by the politician and his supporters.

    In his order issued under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), Pandey said it had been brought to his notice by the senior superintendent of police that Mann was scheduled to enter Jammu and Kashmir and his visit was likely to cause “disturbance in public tranquility”.

    Mann filed a petition in the court of the chief judicial magistrate of Kathua through advocate T N Gupta, challenging the district magistrate’s order denying him entry into Jammu and Kashmir.

    ALSO READ | Sangrur Lok Sabha bypoll: Setback for AAP as SAD candidate Simranjit Singh Mann wins

    Gupta said Mann has challenged the order on grounds that he was granted approval for his visit to the Union territory a few days ago.

    “As per the protocol of his visit fixed by the additional deputy commissioner (Kathua), he left for J&K on October 17 (from Punjab). But when he reached here, the district magistrate of Kathua gave him this order (of denying entry into J&K). So he is challenging it,” Gupta said.

    He said the matter will be taken up on Thursday. Gupta said Mann has also demanded the restoration of his basic rights as a senior citizen as well as an elected MP.

    KATHUA (Jammu): Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann has moved a Jammu and Kashmir court to challenge the administration’s order denying him entry into the Union territory, his lawyer said on Thursday.

    Mann has been sitting on a protest in Lakhanpur for three consecutive nights against the administration’s decision. Thursday is the fourth day of the protest.

    The MP from Sangrur in Punjab was stopped on orders of Kathua District Magistrate Rahul Pandey on Monday evening, leading to the protest by the politician and his supporters.

    In his order issued under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), Pandey said it had been brought to his notice by the senior superintendent of police that Mann was scheduled to enter Jammu and Kashmir and his visit was likely to cause “disturbance in public tranquility”.

    Mann filed a petition in the court of the chief judicial magistrate of Kathua through advocate T N Gupta, challenging the district magistrate’s order denying him entry into Jammu and Kashmir.

    ALSO READ | Sangrur Lok Sabha bypoll: Setback for AAP as SAD candidate Simranjit Singh Mann wins

    Gupta said Mann has challenged the order on grounds that he was granted approval for his visit to the Union territory a few days ago.

    “As per the protocol of his visit fixed by the additional deputy commissioner (Kathua), he left for J&K on October 17 (from Punjab). But when he reached here, the district magistrate of Kathua gave him this order (of denying entry into J&K). So he is challenging it,” Gupta said.

    He said the matter will be taken up on Thursday. Gupta said Mann has also demanded the restoration of his basic rights as a senior citizen as well as an elected MP.

  • Descendants of traitors are now questioning credentials of martyrs: Punjab CM Mann

    By PTI

    SANGRUR: Days after SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann called freedom fighter Bhagat Singh a “terrorist”, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said no one has any right to question the contribution of great martyrs for the motherland.

    The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief, who is also the MP from Sangrur, has been under fire for his controversial remark.

    He had even defended his remark on Bhagat Singh.

    Addressing the gathering during a state-level function to mark the martyrdom day of Shaheed Udham Singh here on Sunday, Chief Minister Mann, without naming anyone, said it is unfortunate that those who swear by the Constitution to enjoy fruits of power raise a question mark on the supreme sacrifice of the martyrs.

    The AAP leader alleged that “when our great national heroes and martyrs were waging war against the atrocious British regime, some traitors were siding with the imperialist forces”.

    Those people who had felicitated the British had bruised the psyche of every freedom fighter and martyr, an official release quoted the chief minister as saying.

    “It is unfortunate that descendants of such traitors are now questioning the credentials of martyrs. Questioning the credentials of martyrs to eulogize the atrocities of British is a sin and those indulging in such heinous acts are doing an unpardonable crime,” he said.

    Bhagwant Mann said great martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh do not need recognition from anyone because merely his name is enough to inspire millions of people to sacrifice their lives for the country.

    Any controversy on his name and contribution in the freedom struggle is “undesirable”, he stated, adding these martyrs had laid down their lives for the freedom of the country and no one has any right to question his role in the Independence movement.

    He trained his guns on former chief minister Amarinder Singh, a scion of the erstwhile Patiala royal family.

    “The royal family of Patiala has a lineage of anti-Punjab stance,” he alleged.

    “What good of Punjab can be expected from these people who were hand in glove with the British at the time when Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh and others were fighting for the country,” Bhagwant Mann alleged.

    READ HERE | Chimanlal Setalvad did not give clean chit to Gen Dyer for Jallianwala Bagh massacre: Historians

    Paying rich tributes to Shaheed Udham Singh, the chief minister said “this true son of soil had in a heroic act exhibited exemplary courage by killing Michael O’ Dwyer, the prime perpetrator of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre”.

    He also recalled the unparalleled sacrifice made by legendary martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Udham Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha and others during the Indian freedom movement.

    Bhagwant Mann said as an artist whenever he went to London, he used to visit the Caxton Hall where Shaheed Udham Singh had taken revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

    “This hall is of immense significance for all of us as it reminds us of the heroic deed of the martyr.

    All out efforts will be made to bring back the belongings of all the martyrs to India,” the chief minister said.

    SANGRUR: Days after SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann called freedom fighter Bhagat Singh a “terrorist”, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said no one has any right to question the contribution of great martyrs for the motherland.

    The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief, who is also the MP from Sangrur, has been under fire for his controversial remark.

    He had even defended his remark on Bhagat Singh.

    Addressing the gathering during a state-level function to mark the martyrdom day of Shaheed Udham Singh here on Sunday, Chief Minister Mann, without naming anyone, said it is unfortunate that those who swear by the Constitution to enjoy fruits of power raise a question mark on the supreme sacrifice of the martyrs.

    The AAP leader alleged that “when our great national heroes and martyrs were waging war against the atrocious British regime, some traitors were siding with the imperialist forces”.

    Those people who had felicitated the British had bruised the psyche of every freedom fighter and martyr, an official release quoted the chief minister as saying.

    “It is unfortunate that descendants of such traitors are now questioning the credentials of martyrs. Questioning the credentials of martyrs to eulogize the atrocities of British is a sin and those indulging in such heinous acts are doing an unpardonable crime,” he said.

    Bhagwant Mann said great martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh do not need recognition from anyone because merely his name is enough to inspire millions of people to sacrifice their lives for the country.

    Any controversy on his name and contribution in the freedom struggle is “undesirable”, he stated, adding these martyrs had laid down their lives for the freedom of the country and no one has any right to question his role in the Independence movement.

    He trained his guns on former chief minister Amarinder Singh, a scion of the erstwhile Patiala royal family.

    “The royal family of Patiala has a lineage of anti-Punjab stance,” he alleged.

    “What good of Punjab can be expected from these people who were hand in glove with the British at the time when Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh and others were fighting for the country,” Bhagwant Mann alleged.

    READ HERE | Chimanlal Setalvad did not give clean chit to Gen Dyer for Jallianwala Bagh massacre: Historians

    Paying rich tributes to Shaheed Udham Singh, the chief minister said “this true son of soil had in a heroic act exhibited exemplary courage by killing Michael O’ Dwyer, the prime perpetrator of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre”.

    He also recalled the unparalleled sacrifice made by legendary martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Udham Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha and others during the Indian freedom movement.

    Bhagwant Mann said as an artist whenever he went to London, he used to visit the Caxton Hall where Shaheed Udham Singh had taken revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

    “This hall is of immense significance for all of us as it reminds us of the heroic deed of the martyr.

    All out efforts will be made to bring back the belongings of all the martyrs to India,” the chief minister said.

  • SAD MP calls Bhagat Singh ‘terrorist’, faces Punjab minister’s ire

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Friday said Sangrur MP Simranjit Singh Mann should tender an unconditional apology for calling legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh a “terrorist”.

    The minister for higher education and languages announced that the state government will bestow martyr status on Bhagat Singh for the supreme sacrifice he made for the sake of country’s freedom.

    During his interaction with reporters in Karnal on Thursday, Simranjit Singh Mann was asked why he has in the past referred to Bhagat Singh as a “terrorist” when he was a legendary martyr.

    “Try to understand, Sardar Bhagat Singh had killed a young English officer, he had killed an Amritdhari Sikh constable, Channan Singh. He had hurled a bomb into the National Assembly at that time. Now, you tell me whether Bhagat Singh was a terrorist or not,” Mann had said in Karnal.

    “A newly elected MP has disrespected the sacrifices of legendary martyr Shaheed Bhagat Singh, who laid down his life for the independence of the country,” said Hayer here.

    Hayer said not only Punjab but the whole nation is proud of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev for sacrificing their lives at a very young age for the country.

    “Indians are able to breathe in a free nation because these men sacrificed their present for our future. But Simranjit Mann regrettably does not respect a national hero,” said Hayer.

    He said Bhagat Singh is their idol “and I want to make it clear with full responsibility that the Punjab government will bestow martyr status to Bhagat Singh”.

    The Cabinet minister said the Aam Aadmi Party is a democratic party and if required it would initiate legal action against Simranjit Mann “for disrespecting martyr Bhagat Singh and hurting the sentiments of countless Punjabis who hold him in high regard”.

    Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal also slammed Simranjit Singh Mann.

    “Every Sikh, every Punjabi & every Indian is proud of Shaheed-e-Azam S Bhagat Singh. Every Sikh treats him as a symbol of our quom’s unprecedented contribution to the freedom struggle. @SimranjitSADA is trying to undermine this pride & lower the image of Sikhs all over the world,”Badal said in a tweet.

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Friday said Sangrur MP Simranjit Singh Mann should tender an unconditional apology for calling legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh a “terrorist”.

    The minister for higher education and languages announced that the state government will bestow martyr status on Bhagat Singh for the supreme sacrifice he made for the sake of country’s freedom.

    During his interaction with reporters in Karnal on Thursday, Simranjit Singh Mann was asked why he has in the past referred to Bhagat Singh as a “terrorist” when he was a legendary martyr.

    “Try to understand, Sardar Bhagat Singh had killed a young English officer, he had killed an Amritdhari Sikh constable, Channan Singh. He had hurled a bomb into the National Assembly at that time. Now, you tell me whether Bhagat Singh was a terrorist or not,” Mann had said in Karnal.

    “A newly elected MP has disrespected the sacrifices of legendary martyr Shaheed Bhagat Singh, who laid down his life for the independence of the country,” said Hayer here.

    Hayer said not only Punjab but the whole nation is proud of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev for sacrificing their lives at a very young age for the country.

    “Indians are able to breathe in a free nation because these men sacrificed their present for our future. But Simranjit Mann regrettably does not respect a national hero,” said Hayer.

    He said Bhagat Singh is their idol “and I want to make it clear with full responsibility that the Punjab government will bestow martyr status to Bhagat Singh”.

    The Cabinet minister said the Aam Aadmi Party is a democratic party and if required it would initiate legal action against Simranjit Mann “for disrespecting martyr Bhagat Singh and hurting the sentiments of countless Punjabis who hold him in high regard”.

    Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal also slammed Simranjit Singh Mann.

    “Every Sikh, every Punjabi & every Indian is proud of Shaheed-e-Azam S Bhagat Singh. Every Sikh treats him as a symbol of our quom’s unprecedented contribution to the freedom struggle. @SimranjitSADA is trying to undermine this pride & lower the image of Sikhs all over the world,”Badal said in a tweet.

  • Sangrur Lok Sabha bypoll: Setback for AAP as SAD candidate Simranjit Singh Mann wins

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH:SAD (Amritsar)’s Simranjit Singh Mann on Sunday won the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat after defeating his nearest rival, AAP’s Gurmail Singh, by a margin of 5,822 votes.

    Mann polled 2,53,154 votes, while Singh secured 2,47,332 votes, as per the data available.

    The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the state earlier conceded defeat in the seat and congratulated the SAD (Amritsar) leader.

    Addressing the media, AAP spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said, “We respect the mandate of the people of Sangrur seat. We also congratulate Simranjit Singh Mann on his victory.”

    The bypoll to the seat was necessitated due to the resignation of AAP’s Bhagwant Mann from the Lok Sabha after he was elected as an MLA in the state assembly elections earlier this year.

    The counting of votes began at 8 am on Sunday amid tight security arrangements.

    The fate of 16 candidates who were in the fray was sealed during the polling on June 23.

    The Sangrur Lok Sabha bypoll had witnessed a low turnout of 45.30 per cent as against 72.44 per cent polling in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and 76.71 in 2014.

    There were 15.69 lakh eligible voters.

    Bhagwant Mann, who is the state’s chief minister now, had won the Sangrur seat in the 2014 and the 2019 parliamentary elections.