Radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh drew a parallel between “Hindu Rashtra” and “Khalistan” as he defended the slogans calling for a separate state. Amritpal, the brand new face of the fundamentalist fringe in Punjab, stated that Khalistan is a “very normal discussion” in Punjab and appears scary to outsiders solely as a result of they see it by means of the lens of media.

“When you are not Punjabi and do not visit the state very frequently, and when you see everything through media, it looks very scary. But it is not. Khalistan is a very normal discussion here,” the self-proclaimed separatist preacher advised information company ANI.

“When somebody says ‘Hindu Rashtra’ zindabad, what is ‘Hindu Rashtra’? Where is it established? People don’t feel threatened with it,” he stated whereas additionally claiming that the concept of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ is completely reverse to the concept of ‘Khalistan’.

“Hindu Rashtra does not include other identities, either you are a Hindu or dead. They don’t give you options. The idea of Khalistan is so pure, it’s idea is the raj of Khalistan,” Amritpal added.

The 29-year-old pro-Khalistan controversial chief stated that he doesn’t take into account himself an Indian citizen, calling the passport merely a “travel document” which doesn’t make him an Indian.

Amritpal additionally defended his earlier remarks on Union residence Amit Shah by which he had warned of “consequences” just like former prime minister Indira Gandhi. On Thursday, he stated, “Amit Shah had said that he won’t let the Khalistan movement rise. I had said that the same was done by Indira Gandhi and if you do the same then you’d have to face consequences. If the home minister says the same to those demanding ‘Hindu Rashtra’, then I will see if he remains home minister.”

Defending his assertion, Amritpal stated, “When Amit Shah said that he will suppress things, I said there will be consequences. It’s not just about Indira Gandhi’s murder as consequence. It’s not a threat to Home Minister. I would say is a threat to us. What options do we have when there are legal binaries in India? I don’t consider myself a citizen of India. I just have a passport, which does not make me Indian. It’s a travel document.”

(With inputs from ANI)