Simranjit Singh Mann: A man living in India and striving for Khalistan

Simranjit Singh Mann is a veteran Akali who largely spent the last two decades on the margins of Punjab politics. His Twitter bio is itself controversial as he mentions, ‘Striving for #Khalistan’ (A Sovereign State for Sikhs) having quite a following of 27.6K on Twitter.

The Background:

He became an IPS officer and served in senior positions such as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Ferozepur and Faridkot, and deputy director of the Vigilance Bureau. According to records, in his police career, Mann arrested 7,403 smugglers bringing drugs over from Pakistan.

He resigned from the police on June 18, 1984, in protest against Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Instances that made him Controversial:

Controversy is no new concept for Simranjit as it goes hand in hand from the beginning of his career.

In the year 1984, he was charged, with the conspiracy to assassinate former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

In the year 1990, he resigned as MP after being denied entry into Parliament with his kirpan, which is a symbol of the Sikh faith.

How Simranjit is trying to spread hate between Sikh and other communities:

1. Simranjit called the Indian Army brutal for killing a Sikh officer after a debate over Khalistan and Kashmir.

He tweeted, “Brutal Indian army men beheaded a #Sikh soldier after a debate over #Khalistan & blamed #Pakistan. Proves that Sikh soldiers want Khalistan.”

Brutal Indian army men beheaded a #Sikh soldier after a debate over #Khalistan & blamed #Pakistan.
Proves that Sikh soldiers want Khalistan. https://t.co/rTKtGoVlXV

— Simranjit Singh Mann (@SimranjitSADA) November 14, 2016

But in reality, no news as such was found on any main stream media.

2. Simranjit justified the slogans raised inside Akal Takht in Amritsar of “KHALISTAN ZINDABAD”

And tweeted, “heocratic #Hindu Indian State’s media trying its best to tarnish the image of the #Sikhs. But this is the reality here in #Punjab. Which they never let anyone know. Yes, #Khalistan demand is at its peak.”

Theocratic #Hindu Indian State’s media trying its best to tarnish the image of the #Sikhs. But this is the realty here in #Punjab. Which they never let anyone know. Yes, #Khalistan demand is on its peak. https://t.co/Ljr3isd0P0

— Simranjit Singh Mann (@SimranjitSADA) June 6, 2018

But according to the records, the prominent Sikh community does not want Khalistan and does not support another separation.

3. He asked people to raise Sikh flags instead of Tri-Color flags on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day.

In a message, Mann appealed to the people to hoist saffron flags and Nishan Sahib on their houses on August 14 and 15.

The Nishan Sahib flag is a symbol of the Sikh religion.

Best tribute to the 75th anniversary would be to librate Ladakh from China than fluttering flags. Besides provide food and shelter to the poor. If Nancy Pelosi could do it so can the Politicos and Generals.
Facta Non Verba.

— Simranjit Singh Mann (@SimranjitSADA) August 7, 2022

Where on the other side, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has criticised a section of radical leadership for trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state.

Reacting to a call by these leaders, including by Mann, who recently took an oath under the Constitution, Warring said such actions are clearly meant to vitiate the hard-earned peace in Punjab.

Other than this, in this DFRAC Exclusive we will capture the hate and misleading spreading through the account of Simranjit Singh Mann to enhance his Pro-Khalistan agenda.

1. He stated that his win is because of the teachings of militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala, who was killed during Operation BlueStar which was carried out by the Indian Army in June 1984 to flush out militants hiding in the Golden Temple complex.

In an interview given to News18, he said clearly in Punjabi that we were asking for Khalistan for so long, but Bhindranwala was the person who is able to put this thought into action.

Remembering our hero, warrior, saint-soldier Sant Jarnail Singh #Bhindranwale on his b'day, who laid his life for d sanctity of Akal Takht.

— Simranjit Singh Mann (@SimranjitSADA) February 12, 2017

"Once there is Unity, There will be a #khalistan." Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale#30YearsOf84 #SikhGenocide84

— Simranjit Singh Mann (@SimranjitSADA) November 1, 2014

2. Recently, he called Bhagat Singha “terrorist” which created a lot of buzz in the mainstream media.

Many people from the Sikh Community came forward and opposed this statement of Simranjit.

Sangrur MP Simranjit Singh Mann says Shaheed E Azam Bhagat Singh is a terrorist, when he was asked yesterday by journalists in Karnal about his take on Sardar Bhagat Singh pic.twitter.com/yVFX1mNr2k

— Gagandeep Singh (@Gagan4344) July 15, 2022

3. He objected to President Droupadi Murmubeing referred to as “Rashtrapati”.

My question to Law Minister in Parliament today: Why is there no Sikh Judge in the Supreme Court?

Rest assured, no matter how hard they try I will not be distracted from raising our issues in the Parliament pic.twitter.com/VIjhgpw8dC

— Simranjit Singh Mann (@SimranjitSADA) July 26, 2022

Droupadi Murmu officially took over as president on Monday, becoming not only the second woman to hold the largely ceremonial post but the first from a tribal community to do so.

It is not the first time debates like this emerged but the same debate gripped India when Pratibha Patil became India’s first female president in 2007, serving until 2012. In the end, Patil was simply addressed as Rashtrapati, as she had no problems with the traditional title whereas, Murmu has yet to publicly express a preference.

But In the Oath taking ceremony, Murmu willingly denoted herself as Rashtrapati, hence leaving no space for debates and discussions.

4. In Parliament, he questioned the law Minister as to why there is no Sikh Judge in the Supreme Court.

My question to Law Minister in Parliament today: Why is there no Sikh Judge in the Supreme Court?

Rest assured, no matter how hard they try I will not be distracted from raising our issues in the Parliament pic.twitter.com/VIjhgpw8dC

— Simranjit Singh Mann (@SimranjitSADA) July 26, 2022

But as per records, Jagdish Singh Khehar (born 28 August 1952) is a senior advocate who was the 44th Chief Justice of India (CJI). Khehar is the first CJI from the Sikh community. He has been a judge in the Supreme Court of India from 13 September 2011 to 27 August 2017 upon superannuation.

5. As India has declared itself a Sovereign, Democratic and Republic state with the adoption of the Constitution on January 26, 1950, where Sovereign means that India is a free or independent country. It is not controlled by any foreign power and they are not allowed to interfere in any of the internal or external affairs of the country. This implies that it is free to formulate any of its domestic and foreign policies. And Democratic means a country, government, or political system is governed by representatives who are elected by the people.

He time and again through his Tweets called India as ‘Hindu state’

6. He always makes a clear point to have a separate country for Sikhscalling it Khalistan.

Wordcloud:

These are the words that are most commonly used in his tweets eg: Khalistan, freedom, hindu, Sikhs etc.

Conclusion:

In this DFRAC Exclusive we have covered Pro- Khalistani striver Simranjit Singh Mann. DFRAC have covered various instances when he made himself into controversies throughout his political career, along with the examples when he had tried to make differences between different communities. DFRAC have also covered how he is spreading hateful and baised narratives through his Twitter account.