Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh, who has been on the run since March 18 has released a new video asking the Sikh community to "come together to celebrate Baisakhi", which falls on April 13.

This is the first video of the radical Sikh preacher since he has been on the run. In the live video addressed in Punjabi, he said the government action against him “was not about his arrest but an attack on the Sikh community”. The video appeared amid reports that the radical preacher might surrender.

The Khalistan supporter, dressed in a black turban and shawl, said if the state government had the intention of making an arrest, police could have come to his house and he would have given up.

In the video, he urged for mob mobilisation and confirmed that he is not yet arrested.

He urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to summon a Sarbat Khalsa or a gathering of the entire Sikh community on Baisakhi to "fight against injustice".

"The Almighty saved us from the attempt of 'lakhs of cops' who were sent to make an arrest. I'm doing fine. Now, let's go ahead and fight for the rights of Punjab," Amritpal can be heard saying in the new video.

The radical preacher also slammed the Punjab Police for arresting Sikh youths during a crackdown against him. 

On Wednesday, there was a huge security in Amritsar amid speculations that Amritpal Singh will surrender at Golden Temple. Some reports claimed Amritpal Singh gave the police a few conditions that he won't be tortured in jail and he won't be taken outside Punjab. Reacting to this, the Amritsar police commissioner said no such conditions have been given by him but in general Punjab Police is a professional organisation and there will be due legal process if Amritpal Singh surrenders.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government Wednesday informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that "despite best efforts", radical preacher Amritpal Singh has not been arrested yet. Justice N S Shekhawat was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by advocate Imaan Singh Khara, seeking the "release" of the Khalistan sympathiser from alleged police custody.

Police have launched a major crackdown against Amritpal Singh and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De'.

Image source: Telegraph India