In a rare occurrence, jailed figures Amritpal Singh and Sheikh Abdul Rashid, known as Engineer Rashid, were granted temporary release from custody to be sworn in as Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha on Friday. Singh, associated with Khalistani sympathies, and Rashid, embroiled in a terror funding case, were elected as Independent MPs from Khadoor Sahib, Punjab, and Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, respectively, during the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Both MPs-elect were unable to take their oaths earlier with their peers due to their incarceration under serious charges. Rashid, arrested in connection with a terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, has been in Delhi’s Tihar jail since 2019. Similarly, Singh faced charges under the National Security Act and has been detained in Dibrugarh, Assam, since April 2023.
Their parole arrangements allowed Rashid a two-hour window, excluding travel time, from Tihar to Parliament, while Singh was granted a four-day parole starting July 5 to facilitate his travel from Assam to Delhi and back. Conditions of their parole strictly prohibited any interaction with the media or public statements, extending to their family members.
Security measures were stringent, with both MPs-elect accompanied by security personnel at all times during their temporary release. Coordination between Delhi Police, Punjab Police, and Parliament officials was ensured to maintain protocol within the Parliament complex.
Rashid’s legal entanglements trace back to allegations arising from the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali’s funding activities linked to separatist movements in Kashmir. Meanwhile, Singh’s affiliations with Khalistani ideologies have drawn comparisons to figures like Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
The swearing-in ceremony, conducted in the presence of Lok Sabha officials and amidst heightened security, marked a notable chapter in India’s parliamentary history, showcasing the complexities of electoral processes amid legal challenges.
Sources By Agencies
