‘He deserved to get killed’: Sonia Mann on Sudhir Suri’s murder [ Punjab, India ]

[ Reported as seen ]

On 2 March, 2023, Punjabi actress turned activist Sonia Mann whitewashed the killing of Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri by saying that ‘he deserved to get killed’. She praised the criminal Sandeep Singh who carried out the murder.

In an exclusive interview with a local Punjabi news channel named Rozana Spokesman, Mann said, “Sandeep ji killed Suri. He did a good job. One should not indulge in killing and violence, but killing Suri was necessary. Singh was influenced by your speeches and your activities. What did you (Amritpal Singh) do for him. He was hurt that his close aide Lovepreet Toofan was in jail for three days, why didn’t he raise his voice back when police held Sandeep Singh for murdering Suri?

The ideas of Khalistan of both these leaders are as if two ends of one line. They can never meet. Raja Ranjit Singh aimed for an empire in which every person would be treated equally, education would be given importance there and there would be respect for all. Today what Amritpal Singh is fighting for is just power. He is a fanatic leader and has a different idea of what Khalistan should be.

You say you have a private life. Fair. But then you portray yourself as a ‘Sikh’ leader? Our Sikh Guru had in the past sacrificed their respective families for religion. They didn’t have any private life. Guru Gobind Singh ji sacrificed his four Sahibzadas to protect our culture and religion. He didn’t discriminate. He said all are my Sahibzadas and I have to protect all. What is Amritpal Singh doing? Just spreading fear and fanaticism?”

She also said that Amritpal Singh was ruining the image of Punjab by raising pro-Khalistani slogans. “The recent Ajnala protests were the outcome of fanaticism. He jammed the Police station as his close aide was in jail. Where was he when Sandeep ji was jailed,” she could not stop giving respect and side with the murderer, ‘Sandeep’.

On November 4, Sudhir Suri was shot dead in broad daylight outside the Gopal temple in Amritsar. He was protesting against the temple’s authorities after some broken idols were found in the garbage outside the temple premises. Sudhir Suri’s son revealed that his father had received a threatening call in the name of Amritpal Singh and that his murder was pre-planned by the Khalistanis.