Faridkot: Indira Gandhi assassin's son Sarabjit Singh Khalsa announces candidature in Lok Sabha elections

PTC Web Desk: Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, the son of one of the assassins involved in the killing of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has announced his candidature as an independent in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Punjab's Faridkot. The 45-year-old is entering the race in a constituency known for its unique blend of personalities and politics, as he competes against three prominent singers-turned-politicians representing the BJP, Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The BJP's candidate is Hansraj Hans, while Congress and AAP have fielded Mohammad Sadiq and Karamjit Anmol, respectively.

As per a report in India Today TV, Sarabjit Singh said he decided to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections after receiving numerous requests from Faridkot residents. He believes he has a chance to win by focusing on important issues such as sacrilege, drug abuse, farmer concerns, and education in Punjab. He said AAP's Karamjit Anmol had struggled to connect with locals, while farmers were protesting against BJP's Hans Raj Hans.

Sarabjit Singh's political journey has been marked by challenges and losses. Earlier, he ran in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from Bathinda, securing 1.13 lakh votes but losing the race. In the 2007 Punjab Assembly elections, he competed for the Bhadaur seat in Barnala, receiving only 15,702 votes. His most recent campaign was in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where he represented the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) but was defeated again.

In the 1989 Lok Sabha elections, Sarabjit's mother, Bimal Kaur, was elected as an MP from Ropar, and his grandfather was elected as an MP from Bathinda in the same year.

In 1984, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, who were serving as bodyguards, assassinated Indira Gandhi at her residence. Beant Singh was killed on the spot by security guards, while Satwant Singh was later sentenced to death and hanged.