Simranjit Singh Mann
Simranjit Singh Mann (born 20 May 1945)[1] is a politician and a former police officer from Punjab.[2][3][4] He is the president of the political party, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar). Mann is a two time MP from Taran Tarn in 1989 and Sangrur in 1999.[5] He has been arrested or detained some 30 times but he has never been convicted.[6]
Simranjit Singh Mann | |
---|---|
Member of Parliament for Sangrur (Lok Sabha constituency) | |
In office 1999-2004 | |
Preceded by | Surjit Singh Barnala |
Succeeded by | Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa |
Member of Parliament for | |
In office 1989-1991 | |
Preceded by | Tarlochan Singh Tur |
Succeeded by | Surinder Singh Kairon |
Personal details | |
Political party | Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Shiromani Akali Dal (until 1991) |
Early life
Born at Shimla in 1945, he comes from a military-political background. His father, Lt. Col. Joginder Singh Mann, was a speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in 1967.[7] He is married to Geetinder Kaur Mann.[8] Mann's wife and Punjab CM Amarinder Singh's wife Preneet Kaur are sisters.[9]
He was educated at the Bishop Cotton School, Shimla and Government College Chandigarh. He was a gold medalist in subject "History".[1]
He has one son, Emaan Singh, and two daughters, Pavit Kaur and Nanki Kaur.[1] Some news agencies also spell his son's name as Imaan Singh Mann.[10] His son is also a politician.[11][12]
Indian Police Service
He had appeared for Central Services Examination in 1966 and subsequently he joined Indian Police Services in 1967 and he was allocated the "Punjab Cadre". He worked on several positions, including ASP Ludhiana, SSP Ferozepur, SSP Faridkot, AIG GRP Punjab-Patiala division, Deputy Director of Vigilance Bureau Chandigarh, Commandant of Punjab Armed Police and Group Commandant of CISF, Bombay. He resigned from Indian Police Service on 18 June 1984 to protest against the Operation Blue Star.[1][13]
Political career
In 1984, he resigned from his post as Group Commandant of the CISF in Bombay[1] to protest against 1984 anti-Sikh riots and attack on the Harmandir Sahib during Operation Blue Star and was detained. Mann was later charged, among other things, with conspiracy to assassinate Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
He was elected in absentia to the Rajya Sabha by an overwhelming mandate in the State of Punjab, and unconditionally released "in the interests of the State", with all charges dropped, after five years in prison, in November 1989. He was denied an Indian passport on the grounds that he was "threat to the security and integrity of India". Mann was denied entry into the Indian Parliament when he insisted on carrying a sword with him, refusing to exchange it for an allowable smaller Kirpan.[14]
In May 1993, while campaigning in support of a candidate during the Jalandhar by-elections, a gunman attempted to assassinate Mann. However no one was charged in the crime.
On 3 November 1999, after Mann was elected to the Lok Sabha, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the GoI and the Passport Office in Chandigarh to issue a passport to Mann.[15]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)". Akalidalamritsar.net. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "Khalistan ideologue in police net". Indianexpress.com. 9 March 2006. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "Pro-Khalistan slogans raised at Golden Temple". Thaindian.com. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. "India: Whether members of the Akali Dal (Mann) / Akali Dal (Amritsar) party are harassed and arrested for participating in party gatherings, for publicly complaining about the treatment of Sikhs by Indian authorities or for calling for the creation of Khalistan (separate homeland for Sikhs); whether police regard members of the Akali Dal (Mann) party with suspicion and monitor them for signs of any links with terrorism (2005–2008) (15 April 2008, IND102547.E)". UNHCR. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "Rediff on the NeT: The Rediff Election Interview/ Simranjit Singh Mann". Rediff.com. 26 October 1999. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "Book review: Stolen Years – A Memoir of Simranjit Singh Mann's Imprisonment". The Indian Express. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ "Ace shooter & MP. Who is this?". Rediff.com. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – mad". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "Mandarins who rule Punjab". Indianexpress.com. 2 February 2003. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Punjab". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "SAD(Amritsar) leaders level serious allegations on Daljit Singh Bittu". PunjabNewsline.com. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "It's from father to son in Punjab". rediff.com. 9 February 2002. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ "Mann resigns from party after defeat in Punjab elections". PunjabNewsline.com. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (15 April 2008). "India: Whether members of the Akali Dal (Mann) / Akali Dal (Amritsar) party are harassed and arrested for participating in party gatherings, for publicly complaining about the treatment of Sikhs by Indian authorities or for calling for the creation of Khalistan (separate homeland for Sikhs); whether police regard members of the Akali Dal (Mann) party with suspicion and monitor them for signs of any links with terrorism (2005-2008)". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2009.